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PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


PRING6SS 

wmTe mane 

BY 

GERTRUDE •CROWNF1ELD 



illustrations - by- 
ANNE-ZIERRIAAN-PECK* 


E -P- DUTTON 1 ^-COMPANY 
NEW' YORK 



Copyright, 1920, 

By E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 


All Rights Reserved 



Printed in the United States of America 


© Cl. A 5 7 0 9 7 0 

Al'G -6 iii2u 


t 


To 

My Dear Sister 

KATHARINE 


* 







CONTENTS 


Prologue 

CHAPTER 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 

XIV. 

XV. 


PAGE 

I 

5 

29 

37 

S3 

56 

77 

96 

106 

119 

136 

152 

170 

is? 

202 

222 


vii 




































































. • 




\ 


















LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 


“ Here am I, Prince Radiance, come to serve you.” 65 

Suddenly the Giant hurled his Cloak violently 

forward 129 

The Sword of Flames leapt from its scabbard and 

was raised on high 161 

Prince Radiance fell on his knees before her . .217 


is 










PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 



PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


PROLOGUE 

O F all the fairy countries in the 
world none is more wonderful or 
beautiful than the country where the 
Fire Fairies live. Into that land no 
fairies of the earth, or air, or water dare 
venture. They would be seared, or 
changed to ash or vapor. 

Many are the doors that open into 
the Fire Kingdom — thousands, and 
hundreds of thousands in number. 
Wherever you see the firelight flicker, 
wherever you see flames leaping and 
dancing, wherever you hear the snap of 
the burning logs, there you may be sure 


2 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


is an open door. Then if you choose 
to creep close to it, and peer in, you may 
perhaps see wonderful things; fairy 
forms that flit and vanish, and reappear, 
and vanish again among the leaping 
flames, and smoldering embers. Per- 
haps, also, you may see the shining 
domes and glittering turrets of the fairy 
palaces. 

But when the fire burns down, and 
the hearth grows dark the door is closed 
— there is no more to be seen of that 
wonderland. 

In the very heart of the Fire Country 
stands the palace of King Red Flame, 
the gleaming flame-colored palace, the 
Palace of Burning Coals. Round it lies 
a wonderful garden, where paths wind 
away among great fields of fire lilies, 
and flame roses lift their heads, and the 
tall shining trees rustle in the wind 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


3 


with a sound like the whispering of the 
fire on the hearth. Here in this glow- 
ing country the good and happy fairies 
work and play, and serve their king as 
all good fairies should. 

But not all fairies in this land are 
good and happy. Beyond the glow of 
the roses and the lilies, beyond all sight 
of the glimmering trees, there lies an- 
other part of the country where live the 
evil fairies of that land. Here are great 
Plains of Ash, and huge Caverns of 
Soot, and stretches of gloom where 
comes and goes the Shadow Witch. 
Here Imps of Darkness lurk, here 
Dragons crouch, and Wizards dwell. 
Perhaps sometimes when you have 
looked into the Fireplace you have seen 
those dismal plains and darksome 
valleys. They lie away from the heart 
of the Fire, at the side of the Hearth, 


4 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

and between the flames and the heaps 
of ashes. 

And now listen, and I will tell you of 
Prince Radiance, and Princess White 
Flame who lived in the Fire Country 
and of many strange and wonderful ad- 
ventures through which they journeyed 
on to reach at last a neyer-ending 
happiness. 



CHAPTER I 

N C E upon a time a wicked 



Earth Fairy went forth to see 
what mischief she could do. She flitted 
on and on until she came to a House 
Door. She had come to one of the 
homes where the good and useful 
House Fairies dwell. The Door was 
open, and she crept up to it slyly, and 
peered in. There she saw a great room, 
in perfect order, for the House Fairies 
had put everything to rights before they 
went away to their tasks upstairs. The 
floor was swept, the pictures hung trim 
and straight upon the walls, the chairs 
were dusted and set about invitingly, 


s 


6 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

and on the Hearth the Fire burned 
warm and clear. 

“Hhm!” muttered the Earth Fairy. 
“Here is the very chance I’ve been look- 
ing for!” 

She slipped inside the Door and set 
to work at once. She sprinkled ashes 
on the clean-swept floor, and set the 
chairs askew. She pulled the pictures 
crooked, and turned their faces to the 
wall. Into every corner of the room 
she went, making mischief, and leaving 
disorder behind her. No one came to 
interrupt her, so that she kept on and 
on with her malicious task until the 
room was in complete confusion. 
Wearied with the mischief she had done, 
she paused and looked about her for a 
place to rest. On the Hearth lay a great 
bank of warm ashes, soft as a feather- 
bed. She went to it at once, and threw 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


7 


herself down upon it, thinking to rest 
only a moment before she journeyed on. 
Now this was a very dangerous thing 
for an Earth Fairy to do, because none 
but Fire Fairies can safely rest so close 
to Fire and Flame. But this the Earth 
Fairy did not know, so she sank down, 
meaning to rest but for a short time, but 
she was so weary that before she knew 
it she had fallen off into a deep sleep, 
and while she slept the Fire stole from 
her all her Earth magic, and her Earth 
powers. 

Since the Fire was burning, that 
Door to the Fire Country was of course 
wide open, so that King Red Flame rid- 
ing out that morning on his flame- 
colored horse caught a glimpse of the 
Earth Fairy’s yellow hair as she lay in 
the ashes. He drew near to see who 
was slumbering there. At the first 


8 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


glance he knew that she was not a Fire 
Fairy. It was plain, too, that she was 
not a House Fairy. Whoever she was, 
he knew that she was in great danger, 
and that she must be rescued at once. 

He called to her, but she neither 
answered nor stirred. He alighted from 
his horse, and bending over her shook 
her gently, but she gave no sign of life. 
He shook her more roughly, and called 
louder, but quite in vain. 

“I shall have to take her to the 
palace,” murmured King Red Flame to 
himself. “Here I can do nothing. 
Queen Glow and I must consult to- 
gether over the matter.” 

He lifted the Earth Fairy in his arms, 
and laid her across his horse. Then 
mounting again, he rode away with her 
in the direction of the Palace of Burn- 
ing Coals, satisfied that there, in counsel 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


9 


with his queen, he could bring succor to 
the stranger in her great need. 

Queen Glow was a very beautiful 
fairy, and as wise and good as she was 
beautiful. Always her thought was 
how she could help and comfort those 
who were in trouble or distress. As 
soon as King Red Flame arrived at the 
palace, Queen Glow had the insensible 
Earth Fairy carried to her own room, 
and laid upon her royal bed. Here she 
bent over her, chafing her hands, and 
trying in every way to revive her. 

There was deep silence in the room, 
except for the suppressed whispering 
of a little group of Fire Fairies gathered 
about the door. One by one other 
fairies that belonged to the palace came 
to join them, and among the rest came 
Grey Smoke, old and wise, she who had 
nursed Queen Glow as a child. 


10 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


As soon as Grey Smoke saw the Earth 
Fairy, she said, “She has rested too long 
on the Hearth. She has rested too long 
in the heat. Never again can she re- 
turn to her own life. There is only one 
thing left for us to do. We must change 
her into a Fire Fairy. In this way only 
can she again be wakened into life. 
Then she can live happily among us, 
and fill her uses in the Fire Kingdom.” 

“How is so great a change as that to 
be wrought?” asked King Red Flame. 
“Have you knowledge of such a spell 
as will accomplish this?” 

Dame Grey Smoke shook her head. 
“No, Your Majesty, not I,” she said. 
“But there is in the palace, greater 
knowledge than I possess. It was writ- 
ten long ago in the Book of Spells, that 
lies locked away in your treasury.” 

“True,” cried the King. “Why had 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


ii 


I not thought of that? Let the book be 
brought!” 

The King and Queen waited in 
silence while a trusted messenger was 
dispatched to fetch it from the treasure 
chamber where it lay. When it was 
brought the King drew from his bosom 
a tiny key, which hung about his neck 
from a golden thread. As the King un- 
locked the book, a thin mist of magic 
floated out from its pages, and circled 
about his head for a moment before it 
disappeared. A thrill of awe passed 
through the watching fairies. 

Slowly the King turned page after 
page, until at last he paused. “It is 
here,” said he. He and the Queen 
stooped above the book, reading the 
strange and crabbed letters written so 
many ages ago by t|ie masters of fairy 
magic. When they had read the charm 


12 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


through to the end, the King lifted his 
head: “None but those who work this 
charm may see it wrought,” com- 
manded he. Then one by one the fairies 
passed from the royal bedchamber, leav- 
ing the King and Queen alone. 

All was silent in the room. The 
charm had been spoken — the spell had 
been wrought. The King and Queen 
stood watching the still motionless form 
of the Earth Fairy. 

At last through her passed a thrill of 
wakening life. She turned upon her 
side. Her eyelids fluttered, then opened 
wide, and her eyes rested in bewilder- 
ment upon the two bending over her. 
From them her eyes wandered to the 
room about her. She raised herself 
upon her elbow. “Where am I?” she 
demanded in a trembling voice. 

“ l You are in the Kingdom of the Fire 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


i3 


Fairies,” answered Queen Glow gently. 
“But do not be afraid. You are safe 
here, for we have changed you into a 
Fire Fairy, and there is now no more 
danger for you here from heat or flame 
than there is for our own royal selves.” 

The Earth Fairy’s face grew black 
with anger. “A Fire Fairy!” she cried. 
“I, a Fire Fairy! That must never be. 
I am of the Earth. How dared you 
meddle with an Earth Fairy? Let me 
go instantly. I am going back to my 
own country — to my own kind.” 

“That cannot be,” answered the 
King. “There is no spell to transform 
you to what you were, and it was only by 
changing you into a Fire Fairy that we 
were able to awaken you f r om sleep. If 
we had not done this, you would have 
slept and slept yourself away into a film 
of ashes.” 


14 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


Carefully then he explained to her 
where he had found her, and how every 
means had been tried to rouse her, but 
in vain, and only by the power of the 
Book of Spells had it been possible to 
save her. But nothing that the King or 
Queen could say — no words, however 
kind or wise, made the slightest differ- 
ence to the Earth Fairy. She sprang 
from the bed, and stamped her foot. 
She wept, she stormed. 

By and by, however, she became 
sulky, and sank into silence, and would 
not even answer what the King and 
Queen said to her. They were obliged 
to leave her alone, and though she ate 
the food that was presently sent to her, 
she would neither speak, nor look at the 
attendants who brought it. 

But as time passed the Earth Fairy 
grew less sullen, and even seemed to be 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME i S 

in some measure content with her new 
home, and her life in the palace, but 
Queen Glow felt sorry for her, and kept 
here near as her own personal attendant. 
If any difference was made by the 
Queen between her and the Fire Fairies, 
it was that she treated her with especial 
kindness and affection. But the new 
lady in waiting never forgot her old 
life, and although she was now a Fire 
Fairy, she always insisted upon being 
called Earth Fairy, and that was the 
name by which everyone knew her. 

At last there came a time when she 
really seemed to respond to kindness, 
and to feel a certain love for the Queen. 
She sought to please her, and was 
always cheerful and complacent, and on 
their part the King and Queen trusted 
her more and more. There was noth- 
ing in the palace that they would not 


16 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

have given her, nor anything that they 
would not have granted to her, if she had 
asked; that is, nothing that was at all 
possible. 

But as a matter of fact, all this affec- 
tion and pleasantness was only seem- 
ing. The Earth Fairy hated both 
the King and Queen, and longed to 
be revenged upon them for the 
change they had wrought in her, even 
though it had been done to save 
her. Constantly her anger burned 
against them, and she only awaited a 
chance to wreak vengeance upon them. 
The Earth Fairy was crafty, and had the 
patience of craft. She was willing to 
wait and watch a long while if neces- 
sary, if only her chance would come in 
the end. 

While waiting she watched and 
listened, learning such spells as she 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


17 


could from the fairies around her, and 
practicing them in secret. There was 
not a book of magic in the Palace of 
Burning Coals that she did not seek out 
and pore over ; not a wand that she did 
not try. Only the King’s own Book 
of Spells was locked away from her, and 
one precious wand that had belonged to 
the mother of King Red Flame, and had 
been left by her in charge of the Fairy 
Grey Smoke, oldest and wisest of any 
save one in the Kingdom of the Fire 
Fairies. No one else, not even the King 
himself knew of this wand, for his 
mother had made Grey Smoke promise 
that she would never tell him of it, nor 
bring it from its secret hiding-place 
until some great need arose that called 
for a spell that nothing could possibly 
break. 

If the Earth Fairy had known of this 


18 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

wand she would have spared no pains 
to get hold of it; but Grey Smoke was 
wise and faithful, and kept the trust that 
the King’s mother had reposed in her. 



CHAPTER II 

I T was a shining morning in Spring. 

King Red Flame put on his scarlet 
cloak and cap, kissed Queen Glow 
good-by, mounted his flame-colored 
horse, and rode away in the direction of 
the Dying Embers where he had been 
called upon important business. 

The Earth Fairy, peeping from an 
upper window of the Palace of Burning 
Coals, watched him out of sight. Then 
she clapped her hands gleefully. 
“When you come back, King Red 


19 


20 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


Flame — ah, yes — when you come back, 
I think perhaps you will find a surprise 
awaiting you.” For at last the Earth 
Fairy saw a chance for the revenge for 
which she had long been watching, and 
if things but fell out as she hoped, there 
was no wand nor spell that could re- 
store to the King the priceless treasure 
that she purposed to destroy. 

That night all was still and tranquil 
in the Palace of Burning Coals, but the 
next morning a sudden stir arose. 
Sooner than the Queen had been led to 
expect it a very wonderful thing had 
happened in the palace, for very early, 
with the dawning, a tiny baby Princess 
came to be the daughter of King Red 
Flame, and Queen Glow. 

All was tumult and rejoicing. The 
Queen lay proud and happy on the satin 
pillows of her great golden bed, and 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


21 


looked and looked at the beautiful little 
Princess in the golden cradle at her side. 
Everyone was delighted at the coming 
of this Princess, but none seemed more 
so than the Earth Fairy herself. She 
stayed close by the Queen’s side, ready 
to anticipate her every want, and joined 
with the rest in her admiration of the 
baby Princess. 

As soon as the child arrived, a mes- 
senger was sent in haste to recall King 
Red Flame to the palace, but before the 
man rode forth the Earth Fairy 
hastened down, and even as he was plac- 
ing his foot in the stirrup, she told him 
that Queen Glow had decided not to 
send word to the King, as his business 
was too important to be interrupted. 
Instead the messenger was to ride off in 
exactly the opposite direction, and fetch 
back a golden cup which Queen Glow 


22 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


had ordered to be ready when she should 
send for it. 

This was a false errand, but the Earth 
Fairy did not wish anyone to know that 
she had countermanded the Queen’s 
order, and if he were seen to set out on 
a journey, all would suppose that he had 
gone in search of the King. 

Soon after the messenger had de- 
parted, the Queen said to the Earth 
Fairy, who was sitting beside her, “Send 
everybody away except yourself. I wish 
to rest. You yourself are so quiet, dear 
Earth Fairy, you will not disturb me, 
and you can watch over my little 
daughter, and see that no harm comes 
to her while I sleep.” 

“I shall be only too happy, Your 
Highness, to do anything that pleases 
you,” answered the Earth Fairy sweetly. 

So it was that the Queen, and the 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


23 


Earth Fairy, and the baby Princess were 
presently left alone together, and as 
Queen Glow turned on her side and 
closed her eyes, the Earth Fairy seated 
herself beside the cradle with a piece of 
embroidery. 

Before Queen Glow fell asleep, she 
murmured softly, “To-morrow, Earth 
Fairy, King Red Flame will be here. 
Only think how happy he will be to see 
his little daughter!” 

“Ah, Your Highness; what happi- 
ness!” purred the Earth Fairy from her 
chair beside the cradle. 

Now the room grew very still, and 
Queen Glow fell into a profound 
slumber. Then the Earth Fairy laid 
down her embroidery, and rose softly 
from her chair. She tiptoed to the bed, 
bent over the Queen, and listened in- 
tently to her breathing, till she was cer- 


24 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


tain that her mistress slept. Then she 
crept from the room, and was gone for 
some little time. When she returned, 
she brought, concealed in the folds of 
her dress, a bundle of the most power- 
ful wands that the palace contained. 
She stood a moment and listened. The 
Queen and the Princess slept as before. 

The Earth Fairy locked the door 
quickly, and made haste to open the 
bundle of wands. She took out the one 
that she knew to be the most potent, and 
carried it to the bedside of the Queen. 
It was serpent-shaped and slender, and 
as the Earth Fairy waved it above the 
Queen long green tongues of flame 
darted from its tip. 

“Sleep,” whispered the Earth Fairy. 
“Sleep till I bid you waken.” At these 
words the Queen sank into an even 
deeper slumber than before. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 25 

Then the Earth Fairy turned to the 
defenseless Princess. With one sweep 
of the glimmering wand, she bound the 
cradle within a magic circle, so that she 
might weave a spell that no power could 
break. 

But at the very moment that the first 
word of her charm fell from her lips 
there came a sudden knock at the door. 
The Earth Fairy was startled. She 
thrust the wand behind her, stole swiftly 
to the door, and laid her ear to the key- 
hole. 

“Who is there?” she demanded in a 
low voice. 

“It is I — Grey Smoke,” was the 
answer. “I bear a message to the 
Queen.” 

“Queen Glow has given orders that 
she is not to be disturbed,” returned the 


26 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

Earth Fairy. “She sleeps, and I can 
awaken her for no one.” 

Satisfied with the answer that she had 
received, Grey Smoke took her de- 
parture, and the wicked Earth Fairy re- 
turned to the cradle of the Princess. 
She had no more than drawn a second 
time her circle of enchantment, had but 
once waved her wand above the little 
Princess, than there came another, and 
a louder knock. 

Furious that her spell should again 
be interrupted, the Earth Fairy threw 
down her wand, and hurried to the door. 
“Who is it now who comes to disturb 
the Queen?” she demanded sharply. 
“Has not everyone been told that her 
Majesty wishes to sleep?” 

“It is I — Spark— the page,” was the 
reply. “My business is important. A 
golden necklace has just arrived for Her 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


2 7 


Highness the Princess, with orders to 
deliver it to the Queen at once.” 

“Her Majesty is not to be disturbed 
for any purpose,” retorted the Earth 
Fairy. “Go away at once, and put it in 
a place of safety till she awakens.” 

The page was not satisfied. “Since 
the Queen cannot be disturbed,” replied 
he, “you must yourself take it, and keep 
it until she awakens. Open the door, 
and I will give it to you.” 

Obliged to control her anger, lest 
Spark should become suspicious that 
mischief was on foot, the Earth Fairy 
opened the door the merest crack, and 
received a marvelous golden box from 
his hands. At any other time she cer- 
tainly would have turned it over curi- 
ously, and if no one had been by she 
would have peeped within, but now she 
was only anxious to guard the entrance 


28 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


to the room as well as she could, and to 
shut the door quickly, before the sharp 
eyes of Spark should see too much. 

Careful as she was, however, she did 
not succeed in preventing him from 
catching a glimpse of the bundle of 
wands lying upon the Queen’s bed. The 
sight of them in this unexpected place 
excited his suspicions at once, but he 
was far too clever to say anything con- 
cerning them to the Earth Fairy. She 
would give him no satisfaction, he was 
sure. But he lost no time in going to 
Grey Smoke, who was his grandmother, 
and telling her what he had seen. 

Grey Smoke looked very grave. She 
had never trusted Earth Fairy, and now 
a strange fear took possession of her. 
“I will go to the Queen at once,” de- 
clared she. “I — her old nurse, must see 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


29 

to it that no harm comes to her in the 
King’s absence.” 

But swiftly as Grey Smoke hastened 
to the side of her mistress, she was too 
late, for as soon as the page had de- 
parted, the Earth Fairy snatched up her 
wand and rushed to the cradle of the 
Princess. Quickly she drew once more 
her magic circle. Quickly she waved 
the flaming wand three times above the 
sleeping child. “Become invisible!” 
she hissed — “Become invisible!” 

Instantly the little Princess vanished 
from before her eyes, leaving only the 
golden cradle standing empty beside the 
Queen’s bed. 

The Earth Fairy was filled with de- 
light when she saw that she had accom- 
plished what she had set out to do. 

“Now I will awaken Queen Glow,” 


30 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

said she triumphantly. “She shall see 
that she is not the only one who can 
work spells.” 

Though the form of the Princess had 
indeed vanished from the cradle, the 
Earth Fairy did not notice that a tender 
white flame was hovering above the 
place where the child had lain, for there 
was one thing that the wicked fairy, 
with all her knowledge of magic did not 
know: that is, that no Fire Fairy can 
ever be made entirely invisible. Though 
its form may vanish, its spirit is always 
seen as a fine flame. 

The Earth Fairy, in her impatience 
to show the hapless Queen how she 
had revenged herself, had turned her 
back upon the cradle as soon as her spell 
was fully wrought, and was not aware 
of the presence of the tiny flame. She 
took up the wand with which to arouse 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


3i 


the Queen. She leaned over her, and 
touched her with it. 

“Awake!” she cried. 

Immediately, as if she had only waited 
for the word, the Queen opened her 
eyes, and saw with astonishment and 
amaze the evil triumph written upon the 
face of the Earth Fairy. Instantly she 
started from her pillows, and glanced in 
the direction of the cradle. She saw 
that it was empty, and saw the tiny 
white flame flickering where the little 
Princess had been. Then her eyes fell 
upon the bundle of wands, and she 
knew what had been done to her help- 
less child. 

She gave a great cry that rang 
through the room. Grey Smoke, hurry- 
ing down the palace hall, heard it and 
hastened still faster. Without waiting 
to knock, without even trying the door, 


32 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


she wound herself like a thin gray 
thread through the keyhole, was on the 
other side of the door in a moment, and 
stood beside her mistress in her own 
shape. 

The Queen lay back among her satin 
pillows, quite without life. Grief at 
that what had happened to her beloved 
child had broken her heart. 

The Earth Fairy and her wands were 
nowhere to be seen, for as soon as the 
Queen had cried out, she had made haste 
to escape by another door that led to a 
distant part of the palace. 

Grey Smoke was filled with horror at 
what she saw. At first she was unable 
to move, or even to think. But she re- 
covered herself quickly. Something 
must be done. She rushed to the door, 
tore it open, and called aloud for help. 

Spark, who was lingering in the hall, 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


33 


came at once, eager to learn what she 
had discovered, but his grandmother’s 
face showed him that it was no time for 
questions. 

“Go quickly, Spark,” commanded 
she. “Bring every fairy in the palace. 
Something terrible has happened. 
Bring everyone, but especially the Earth 
Fairy; on no account must she be 
allowed to escape.” 

Away flashed Spark in hot haste, and 
did his errand so well, that presently the 
bedroom of the Queen was filled with 
anxious fairies. Under the direction of 
old Grey Smoke, everything known to 
fairy lore was done to revive Queen 
Glow, but nothing was of the least avail. 
Knowing but too well, by the flame 
hovering above the cradle, what had 
happened to the Princess, a band of the 
most trustworthy and faithful fairies set 


34 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


themselves as a guard about her, lest the 
one who had done this wicked deed 
might seek to approach and do further 
harm, if that were possible. 

It was not until all the other fairies 
were gathered in the room that the Earth 
Fairy appeared, with Spark close at her 
side, guarding her lest she should try 
to escape. But the Earth Fairy made 
no attempt to do this. When she 
entered the room she seemed to be over- 
whelmed by surprise at what she saw, 
and to be the most grief-stricken of 
them all. 

Grey Smoke pointed an accusing 
finger at her. “Wicked one,” she cried, 
“It is you who have done this to our 
Queen, and to our little Princess. It is 
you who must pay the penalty when 
King Red Flame returns, and finds 
what you have done.” 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


35 


The Earth Fairy interrupted her in- 
dignantly, and declared with a storm of 
sobs and tears that she was absolutely in- 
nocent, and that when she had left the 
room to put away the wands the Queen 
had asked her to bring, that all had been 
well; the Queen had been sleeping 
quietly in her bed, and the child had 
been in the cradle by her side. 

“Say no more,” commanded Grey 
Smoke. “No one believes you for a 
moment. No one else would have 
wrought evil upon our dear Queen.” 

In spite of everything that the Earth 
Fairy said to try to prove her innocence, 
she was taken away under a close guard 
of Fire Fairies, to be given over to the 
keepers of the prison. 

Around the cradle of the baby 
Princess a ceaseless watch was kept. 
The Fire Fairies who were appointed to 


36 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

guard it kept their eyes fixed upon the 
white and flickering flame, awaiting the 
return of King Red Flame, 



CHAPTER III 

N OW all this time King Red Flame 
knew nothing of the happiness 
and the misfortune that had come to his 
queen. He finished the business that 
had taken him forth as quickly as he 
could, and then, in haste, he turned his 
horse toward home. But it was by an- 
other road that he returned to the palace, 
and it was for this reason that he missed 
the messengers that Grey Smoke had 
sent to seek him. 

Three days had passed since he had 
bade farewell to the Queen, and now he 


37 


38 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


was soon to see her again. Light- 
heartedly he rode along, singing a 
snatch of a song that the Queen loved, 
and more than once he took from his 
pouch a beautiful flashing necklace that 
he was bringing as a present to his wife. 
As he held it up in the glowing light it 
shone and flashed as only magic can. 
He smiled with delight as he thought 
of the pleasure it would give her. 

So full of joy was he that when he 
reached the palace gate he failed to 
notice the sad faces and tear-stained 
eyes of the fairies that came out to meet 
him, and take his horse. Only as he 
hurried up the palace stairs did he real- 
ize that the place seemed quieter than 
usual. 

But presently, drawing still nearer to 
the chamber of Queen Glow, the sound 
of the wailing of many voices smote on 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


39 


his ears, and the nearer he drew to ner 
chamber, the louder it became. Fear 
suddenly awoke in his heart, and drove 
his feet swiftly forward. He rushed to 
the Queen’s door, flung it wide open, and 
stood for a moment looking in. Then 
he hurried to her bedside, the fairies 
shrinking away before him to right and 
left. 

There upon the bed lay the Queen, as 
fair and white as some beautiful figure 
carved in ivory. 

With a loud cry King Red Flame 
fell on his knees beside the bed, and 
clasping the lifeless hand of the Queen 
in his, he called to her, beseeching her 
to look at him, to wake, to speak. It 
seemed indeed as though he were un- 
able to believe that she could no longer 
hear him. 

At last, laying down her hand, he 


40 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


raised himself slowly to his feet. “Tell 
me,” he cried, “how has this happened, 
and what has brought this terrible mis- 
fortune upon our land?” 

For a moment all were still. Then 
Grey Smoke stepped forth from among 
the rest. “Your Majesty,” said she, “it 
is the work of the Earth Fairy. It is she 
who has revenged herself thus.” Then 
briefly she told him all that had hap- 
pened since he had ridden away. 

Silently the King listened, too 
stunned for word or thought. There 
was a pause, and then Grey Smoke laid 
a gentle hand upon his sleeve, and spoke 
again: “Your Highness,” said she re- 
spectfully, “do not forget that the baby 
Princess needs you, and that she who 
has wrought all this evil is still free and 
unpunished.” 

At that King Red Flame turned his 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 41 

head, and looked at the golden cradle. 
There above it hovered the tiny white 
flame, the only visible form of the fairy 
Princess. 

“Alas! Alas!” mourned Grey Smoke 
at his ear, “that this should be all that 
is left of the loveliest princess that the 
Land of the Fire Fairies has ever seen!” 

The King aroused himself. “It is too 
late,” he cried, “to bring my dear Queen 
back to life, but at least as far as the 
Princess is concerned the guilty one 
shall repair her mischief. Bring the 
Earth Fairy to me, and after she has re- 
stored my daughter, she shall receive 
the punishment she has deserved.” 

At once several fairies hastened away 
to seek for the Earth Fairy, and soon 
returned guarding her in their midst. 
She was weeping bitterly. As soon as 
her captors released her, she threw her- 


42 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


self at the King’s feet. “Alas! Alas!” 
she wailed, “the Queen is dead, and 
they accuse me of being the cause. 
Though why, I cannot understand.” 

“You know why they accuse you,” 
answered the King sternly. “I am but 
too well assured that it is you who have 
brought this grief upon us all. Now it 
is for you to break the spell you have 
laid upon the Princess, and after that 
we will consider what punishment is 
fitting for such a one as you.” 

“The Princess!” cried the Earth 
Fairy, “I left her here in the cradle, but 
it appears that harm overtook her also.” 

“Enough!” cried the King. “Yours 
is the spell that has changed the 
Princess to a flame. Yours must be the 
spell to restore her to her shape.” 

“But I know nothing of spells,” ex- 
claimed the Earth Fairy desperately. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 43 

Grey Smoke started forward vehe- 
mently. “What then were you doing 
with the wands that Spark saw when 
you opened the door?” she demanded 
sharply. 

The Earth Fairy flushed deeply, but 
answered without hesitation. “Before 
my mistress fell asleep, she bade me bring 
her a certain bundle of wands that she 
wished to look at. I brought them, as 
she bade me, and she looked at them, 
taking some in her hands, and putting 
others aside. After that she gave them 
back to me, and bade me return them. 
While I was still busy putting them 
away, these Fire Fairies came and 
seized me roughly, crying that the 
Queen was dead, and that I was to 
blame. But listen — who was it that ac- 
cused me? It was Grey Smoke who 
forced her way into the chamber of the 


44 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


Queen in my absence — it is Grey Smoke 
who says these things about me. How 
do you know that it is not Grey Smoke 
herself who has done this deed? What 
more likely than, having done it, she 
should try to throw the blame upon 
another?” 

“Do not dare to accuse my good Grey 
Smoke. There is none whom I trust 
more than I do her,” retorted the King 
angrily. “Had we but chosen her as the 
Queen’s attendant, this grief would not 
have come upon us. Nothing that you 
can say will ever make me believe that 
you are not guilty. But we are wasting 
time. You have been brought to break 
the spell.” 

Stubbornly, again and again, the 
Earth Fairy repeated that she knew 
nothing of spells, either to make them 
or break them. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


45 


“Take her away,” commanded the 
King at last. “Let her be kept in a 
dungeon, away from everyone, until she 
consents to restore the Princess to her 
true form.” In spite of the Earth 
Fairy’s cries and struggles she was 
dragged away, to be kept securely under 
lock and key, until she was ready to obey 
the King’s command. 

This done, King Red Flame had a 
golden box brought that contained the 
very finest wands that he possessed, and 
tried with all the skill he knew to break 
the spell cast over his daughter; but it 
was quite in vain — the white flame still 
fluttered above the cradle, and the baby 
Princess still remained invisible. The 
King was filled with despair, for 
he knew of nothing more that he 
could do to break the Earth Fairy’s 


46 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

spell. Overcome with grief he turned 
to leave the room. 

And now a strange thing happened. 
The tiny white flame, leaving the cradle, 
followed after him very timidly, but very 
steadily, as if the fairy Princess knew 
him, and longed to be close by him, in 
the shelter of his love and protection. 

“Look, look, Your Majesty,” cried 
Grey Smoke, “the little Princess follows 
you !” 

The King was touched to the heart. 
He commanded that the Princess’s 
cradle should be brought to his own 
chamber, and there sitting beside it, he 
rested his head sadly upon his hand, and 
pondered deeply, while still the white 
flame hovered quivering and flashing 
softly above the cradle. 

Suddenly there came a low knock at 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


47 


the door, and Grey Smoke’s voice was 
heard, asking if she might enter. 

“Come in, Grey Smoke,” replied the 
King, and as the door opened, and the 
old nurse came in, he added, “Let us see 
whether you cannot suggest some way 
to help my poor little daughter. For 
me — I have no thought left.” He 
sighed heavily as he spoke, and from 
the white flame above the cradle there 
seemed to float a faint answering sigh. 

“Your Majesty, do not despair,” 
counseled Grey Smoke. “It is true that 
the spell cast upon the Princess is a 
powerful one, but I am sure that in time 
everything will turn out well. I have 
been to see the Wise One, and he has 
told me that only the Veil of Dis- 
enchantment that lies hidden in his 
magic chest can break the spell that rests 
upon the Princess.” 


48 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

The King sprang to his feet eagerly. 
“There is, then, some magic thing that 
can break this enchantment?” he cried. 
“Let us go at once and fetch it.” 

“That is impossible,” replied Grey 
Smoke. “Only the prince who will one 
day come — he who is fated to win the 
Princess as his bride, can see this Veil. 
Only in his hands is it potent to restore 
her.” 

King Red Flame shook his head in 
doubt. “My good nurse,” he groaned, 
“what hope can there be that such a 
prince would ever love my poor daugh- 
ter, who is nothing but a quivering 
flame?” 

“Is there no charm that you can be- 
stow upon her, so that even though she 
remains a flame it will win his heart, 
and make him long to set her free?” 
inquired Grey Smoke. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


49 


Again the King sank into deep 
thought, and as he sat there silently the 
soft cry of the flame again sounded in 
his ears, 

“Her voice!” cried the King. 
“Though her form has been taken from 
her, her voice still remains! Could I 
but make it the most beautiful voice in 
the world, it might draw all hearts to 
her, even though she should indeed 
remain forever invisible. Had I but a 
wand that had not already failed — but, 
as you know, I have already tried with 
every wand in the palace to restore the 
Princess to her true form, and as you 
also know, no wand that has once failed 
can be used the second time.” 

“Your Majesty, the time has now 
come for me to tell you something that 
up to now has been known to no living 
soul except myself. When your mother 


So 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


died, she left in my care a wand more 
powerful than any other in the palace. 
This wand I was to keep until such 
desperate need arose as could be met 
by no other magic known to any of us. 
It is called the Wand of Good Enchant- 
ment. The time for you to use it has 
now come.” So saying Dame Grey 
Smoke drew from under her long cloak 
a faded silken case, and laid it in his 
hands. 

Eagerly the King opened the case, 
and drew from it a slender wand, 
decked with snow-white feathers. The 
moment he touched it, the thrill that 
passed through his fingers told him that 
it was full of magic. His eyes gleamed 
with joy. 

“Ah, Grey Smoke,” he cried, “might 
it not be possible that this wand has the 
power that none of the others possessed 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


5 1 

to break the spell, and give me back my 
daughter? Shall we not try to restore 
her at once?” 

“Nay, nay, Your Majesty 1 Do not 
venture!” begged Grey Smoke anx- 
iously. “Trust to what the Wise One 
has told me. As yet no power can re- 
store the Princess. Do not destroy the 
magic of this wand in a useless attempt. 
Rather use it to bestow the gift that 
will win the heart of the prince who is 
to save her.” 

“.You are right,” agreed the King 
sadly. “The risk is too great. It shall 
be as you say.” 

Taking the Wand of Good Enchant- 
ment, he rose, and stood looking down 
into the cradle of the little Princess. 
Waving it to and fro above the tiny 
flame, he said tenderly, “My daughter, 
by the magic of this wand, I bestow 


52 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

upon you a voice of such marvelous 
sweetness that all who hear it shall be 
drawn to you, and it shall in the end 
win for you the love of that prince who 
alone can save you.” 

The words were no sooner uttered 
than forth from the flame came a gentle 
sound of exquisite music, stirring the 
heart. 

Hearing it, tears of joy rose to the 
eyes of King Red Flame. His mother’s 
wand, left to him for his hour of need, 
had not failed him. 


CHAPTER IV 


D AY followed day, weeks and years 
slipped by, and the tiny dancing 
flame that was the spirit of the baby 
Princess grew larger and more brilliant 
year by year. The Fire Fairies called 
her Princess White Flame, and re- 
garded her with the greatest respect and 
love, but pity and sympathy were always 
mingled with that respect. 

The story of the magic Veil was 
known, and many princes had heard the 
voice of the Princess, and had seen her 
passing as a fine white flame. Many 
would gladly have won her as a bride; 


54 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


many had sought the Wise One — many 
had peered into his ancient chest, but 
none had been able to grasp, or even 
to see the wondrous Veil that alone 
could restore the Princess to her fairy 
form. 

King Red Flame loved his daughter 
dearly, and was never so happy as when 
she fluttered gently from place to place 
with him, or hovered in the air by his 
side when he sat at rest; yet always he 
longed to see her face — to have her visi- 
ble presence. 

One evening as they were moving 
together in the garden, watching the red 
and yellow light that came and went 
among the fire-lilies that bordered the 
winding paths, the King asked her ten- 
derly, “My child, have you not yet seen 
a prince whom you can love?” 

White Flame laughed softly. “No, 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


55 


there is no one. Why do you ask, dear 
father?” 

King Red Flame sighed. “Because 
it is only a prince who loves you, and 
whom you can love in return, who can 
free you from the spell.” 

White Flame stole closer to her 
father’s side, and whispered in his ear, 
“I have not yet seen anyone, dear father, 
for whom I would wish to be more than 
the glancing flame that they see me 
now.” 

Again the King sighed. “Ah, well, 
my daughter, the time may come. But 
remember that until it does, your face 
is hidden from me also.” 



CHAPTER V 

N OT far from the Land of the Fire 
Fairies there is another wonder- 
land. It is called the Kingdom of 
Light. Here, though the people are 
fairies, their magic is different from the 
magic of the fairies of fire and flame. 
But it is not less marvelous and 
beautiful. 

The ruler of this country had a son 
whose name was Prince Radiance. 
The Prince was tall and strong and 
handsome, , His soft red suit of velvet, 
56 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


57 


his scarlet cap with long red feather 
that tossed and floated above his yellow 
hair became him well. So very bright 
with hope and courage were his eyes, so 
very friendly was his smile, that wher- 
ever he appeared the fairies cried to one 
another, “Ah, here comes Prince Radi- 
ance, bringing happiness and cheer 1” 
The young Prince was now of an age 
to seek a bride, but the King was too 
fond of his son to wish him to marry 
anyone whom he did not love with all 
his heart. Many princesses and beauti- 
ful ladies would have been glad to be 
chosen by him, but the young Prince 
cared for none of them. And although 
the wise men of the country came often 
to their King to urge the Prince to take 
a wife, the old King always replied, 
“Not yet, not yet. My son must make 
his own choice, and in his own way.” 


S8 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

So time passed, until one day Prince 
Radiance asked his father’s permission 
to visit the Land of the Fire Fairies. He 
had heard of their strange magic, and 
wished to behold it with his own eyes. 

The King gave him leave, and bid- 
ding his father farewell, the Prince set 
out, quite alone, as was his wish. 

By traveling swiftly, he soon reached 
the boundary of his father’s kingdom, 
and crossed into the Land of the Fire 
Fairies. Now the Fire Fairies have 
always been friendly to the Fairies of 
Light, so the Prince was made welcome 
wherever he went. 

The magic of the Fire Fairies charmed 
and delighted him. He stood and 
watched them rear their shining 
palaces, saw them deck the walls with 
glittering jewels, or wreathe them with 
flaming vines by the mere wave of a 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


59 


wand. He wandered from place to 
place, learning many new and wonder- 
ful things. 

And all the time he drew nearer and 
nearer to the Palace of Burning Coals, 
but as yet he had heard nothing, had 
seen nothing of the Princess White 
Flame. 

At last he came to a garden, whose 
open gate showed him bright trees rust- 
ling in the breeze and bushes thick-set 
with flame-colored blossoms, showed 
him paths that wound away into 
stretches of still greater loveliness and 
bloom. He had come to the garden of 
the Princess. 

He entered, and stood a moment, to 
see if any would come to stop his prog- 
ress ; but all was still in the garden, and 
not a living creature was anywhere in 
sight. He chose the path of greatest 


6 o 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


beauty, but had not gone far upon it 
when he became aware of a voice sing- 
ing in the distance, a voice that drew 
nearer and more near, until the air 
around him was filled with its exquisite 
music. Entranced, rooted to the spot, 
Prince Radiance listened. Never had 
he heard so wondrous a voice. It was 
as though it drew his very heart from 
his breast to follow it. 

So spellbound was he, that at first he 
thought only of the voice, but presently 
he was filled with an ardent desire to 
know from whom it came. But even as 
he looked eagerly about him for the 
singer, the voice began to recede from 
him, and to fade away among the tree- 
tops. Then it was, that glancing up- 
ward, he saw a pure and pearl-white 
flame, and from the flame came the 
magic voice that had so stirred his heart* 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 61 

Awaking from his trance of wonder 
and delight, the Prince sought to follow 
it ; even as he did so the flame was lost 
to sight. He pursued it in the direction 
in which he had seen it pass, but in vain. 

Still the Prince went on in haste, seek- 
ing someone who could tell him where 
it might be found. The faint cracking 
of boughs struck on his ear, and going 
to the place from whence it came, he saw 
a Fire Fairy, pruning a glittering shrub. 

“Tell me,” he cried, “where shall I 
find the flame that was singing yonder, 
the flame with the wonderful voice?” 

The fairy paused in his work, and re- 
garded the Prince curiously. “Can it 
be,” inquired he slowly, “that you have 
not heard of the Princess jWhite 
Flame?” 

“I saw no Princess,” answered Radi- 
ance, “but I heard a voice of magical 


62 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

beauty that seemed to come from a pure 
white flame.” 

“Ah,” replied the Fire Fairy, “that is 
indeed our dear Princess. A flame she 
is, and a flame she must remain, until 
that prince comes at last who alone can 
set her free.” Then he told Prince 
Radiance the story of the spell that had 
been cast upon her in her cradle; told 
him of the wondrous Veil that lay hid- 
den in the Wise One’s ancient chest; 
told him also of the many princes who 
had vainly sought to see it, that they 
might deliver the Princess. 

“I, too, must go,” exclaimed Prince 
Radiance. “Who knows but I may be 
more fortunate than they. Tell me at 
once where this Wise One is to be 
found.” 

Filled with the hope that this at last 
might be the true prince, the fairy told 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 63 

him exactly how to find the Wise One’s 
hut, and the Prince hurried away. 

He had not gone far, however, when 
what was his joy to hear once more, soft 
and faint at first, but clearer and 
stronger as he proceeded, that voice that 
had so charmed him a little while 
before. 

Eagerly, scarce daring to breathe, lest 
he should startle the Princess, and drive 
her from him, the Prince hastened to- 
ward her. 

She was poised at the foot of a great 
fire-oak, her flame seeming to wax or 
wane as the music rose or fell. 

So silently the Prince advanced that 
he stood beside her before she was 
aware. 

“Princess! Princess White Flame!” 
he cried low, “Here am I, Prince Radi- 


64 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

ance, come to serve you. Say that you 
are willing that it should be so.” 

At the sound of his voice, the singing 
of the Princess ceased suddenly. Flash- 
ing and trembling at the unexpected 
appearance of this stranger, she seemed 
about to take flight. 

“Nay, do not leave me,” he besought 
her. “Tell me, rather, that I too may 
seek to deliver you from the cruel spell 
that binds you thus.” 

So did his face glow with the love 
that her voice had awakened in his 
heart, so did his own voice thrill with 
tenderness, that a soft and roseate flush 
passed over the whiteness of the flame, 
as if in answer. Yet she spoke no word. 

“I know what I must do,” pursued the 
Prince. “A fairy has told me. Even 
now I was on my way to seek the Wise 
One, and happily to bring forth the 



“Here am I, Prince Radiance, come to serve you.” 
65 




PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 67 

mystic Veil. Do you bid me go?” He 
paused, and waited for the Princess to 
speak. 

“.Yes,” she whispered softly, “go. 
But ah — if you should not see this Veil 
— what then?” 

“Then — ah then,” he answered 
quickly, “I will return to you, and gaze 
upon your pure and beauteous flame, 
and listen to your magic voice, till love 
shall make keen the eyes that were too 
dull before. Say that you will await me 
here!” 

Again a rosy flush overspread the 
whiteness of the Princess. “I promise 
you,” she said. “When you return, you 
will find me waiting.” 

Overjoyed at so gracious an answer, 
Prince Radiance drew still nearer to 
the glowing flame. “Ah, my beloved 
Princess,” he cried, “something tells me 


68 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

that I shall not fail. I shall return in- 
deed, and in my hand shall be the Veil 
that will set you free. Farewell, then, 
till I come again.” 

Then he left her, a gleaming white- 
ness at the foot of the great fire-oak, and 
went his way as the fairy had directed 
him. 

It was not long until he arrived at the 
house of the Wise One. A queer little 
scarlet hut, it was, set in the midst of a 
thicket of flaming bushes, with a bright 
red path that led straight to the door. 
The path was worn and hollowed out 
by many feet. From the pointed chim- 
ney, and the quaintly peaked roof, down 
all the walls to the very ground, the hut 
was covered with magic signs that no 
one but the Wise One himself under- 
stood. 

Boldly the Prince approached the 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 69 

door, and knocked. A voice bade him 
enter. The Prince obeyed, and found 
himself in the presence of an old, old 
fairy, who was sitting before a table, 
poring over a great Book of Wisdom. 

It was the Wise One. He wore a 
long white beard, that swept down 
his scarlet robe almost to his feet. A 
curious border of fairy letters ran about 
the hem of his robe, and as he rose slowly 
to greet his guest, they flashed and 
moved as if with life. A wave of magic 
flowed from them toward the Prince. 

“Welcome, Prince Radiance,” said 
the Wise One, “I know your errand. 
Come, let us see if you will be able to 
succeed where others have failed.” 

“Ah, that it may be so!” exclaimed 
the Prince, following the Wise One, 
who led him to a chest that stood in a 
corner of the hut. A very ancient chest 


70 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


it was, carved deeply with magic in- 
scriptions that age had had no power 
to dim. Huge hinges held it firm; a 
huge lock fastened it. 

The Prince looked down upon it 
with eager hope. He trembled a little 
as the Wise One drew from his breast 
a key, and fitted it in the lock. Slowly 
the key turned. Slowly the lid rose of 
itself. 

“Look within,” commanded the Wise 
One, “and tell me what you see.” 

In breathless suspense, Prince Radi- 
ance bent over the chest, hoping — fear- 
ing — so much hung upon his power to 
behold what lay therein. The light was 
dim, and the chest deep. For a moment 
he saw no more than what looked like 
a film of ash upon the bottom of the 
chest, and through his heart went a stab 
of pain and disappointment. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 71 

Then, suddenly, his sight seemed to 
clear. “The Veil! The mystic Veill” 
he cried. “There! There it lies! I see 
it! Oh, I see!” 

“Look again,” said the Wise One. 
“Do you see nothing more?” 

Again Prince Radiance bent above 
the chest; again he peered earnestly into 
its depths. Dimly discerned beside the 
Veil lay a sword in its scabbard, and 
close beside it a soft grey pouch. 

“A sword is there, and a curious 
pouch,” he answered. 

“You have seen what none have seen 
before,” replied the Wise One. “The 
Veil is for the Princess, the Sword and 
the Pouch for you. Take them, for the 
time will come, before your task is done, 
when you will need them all. Take out 
the Veil.” 

Gently the Prince lifted the magic 


72 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


Veil from out the chest. As it rose, it 
floated out and out, and seemed to fill 
the hut, like a mist for fineness, like a 
web for strength. 

The Wise One went to a cabinet, and 
drew from it a tiny golden casket. He 
returned to the Prince, and said, “Place 
the Veil inside.” 

“How is that possible?” inquired 
Prince Radiance. 

“You have but to press the corner of 
the Veil, and it will become small 
enough to fit into the tiniest box. You 
have but to lift it from the box, and 
shake it out, and it will become as you 
behold it now. Do as I have said, and 
you will see.” 

The Prince obeyed, and presently the 
Veil lay in the golden casket. The Wise 
One handed him a golden key. “Lock 
it, and fasten it securely within your 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


73 


robe where none can rob you of it,” he 
told him. “On its safety all your hopes 
depend.” 

Gravely Prince Radiance did as the 
ancient fairy bade him. 

“Lift out the Sword,” directed the 
Wise One, “and draw it from its scab- 
bard.” 

Again the Prince obeyed. As he laid 
his hand upon the hilt it was as if the 
Sword answered to his touch, and leapt 
from its scabbard, a flashing flame of 
blue, that shed a dazzling light on all 
around it. 

“It is the Sword of Flames,” the Wise 
One told him, “a powerful weapon — 
potent in your hands alone. It will 
serve you well. See that you do not lose 
it. See that you do not use it until its 
day comes.” 

Prince Radiance looked at him in 


74 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


wonder. “How shall I know the day?” 
asked he. 

“When the day comes you will need 
none to tell you,” was the answer. 
“And now take the Pouch — the third 
and last gift.” 

The Prince replaced the Sword of 
Flames in its sheath, and bound it on. 
Then stooping he took out the Pouch. 

“Open it,” said the Wise One. 

Prince Radiance did so, and saw that 
it was divided within into two compart- 
ments. 

“This is a magic pouch,” the Wise 
One instructed him. “Whatever you 
place in it will never fail of its supply. 
It will help you out of many a danger, 
out of many a difficulty.” 

The Prince thought deeply. “What 
shall I place within it that will have 
such power?” he asked at last. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 75 

The Wise One smiled. “That is easy 
enough to choose,” he answered. “In 
the one side place a burning coal; put 
in the other a handful of ash. Nothing 
else could possibly be so unfailingly 
useful wherever you may go.” 

Surprised at such an answer, Prince 
Radiance gazed at him without obey- 
ing. 

“It is as I have told you,” the ancient 
one assured him. “ You will find it so.” 

Then the Prince stooped to the fire 
that was burning on the hearth, and 
filled the Pouch as he had been directed, 
and fastened it to his side, the Wise One 
watching him meanwhile with a kindly 
smile. 

When Prince Radiance would have 
thanked him for the fairy gifts, he dis- 
missed him with a wave of the hand. 
“Go,” he said, “and all good fortune at- 


76 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


tend you. If you but do your part, the 
magic of the Veil will be potent to 
break the Earth Fairy’s spell, and re- 
store the Princess White Flame to her 
fairy form.” 



CHAPTER VI 

F AR from the kingdom of King 
Red Flame, in the dismal coun- 
try that lies along the Chimney Back 
are many dark and mischievous fairies, 
and the most mischievous of them all 
was Flying Soot. 

He was a great traveler, and em- 
ployed himself in flitting from place to 
place collecting news, and telling if 
again wherever he thought that it would 
do the most harm. Most of his time was 
spent in the Land of Evil Fairies where 
he had many friends who gave him wel- 


77 


78 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


come for the sake of what he had to tell. 
But now and again he crossed secretly 
into King Red Flame’s dominions, in 
the hope that he might pick up some in- 
formation that he could use. He always 
took great care, however, not to allow 
himself to be seen by any of the Fire 
Fairies. 

Upon one of these excursions he over- 
heard some Fire Fairies repeating the 
story of the enchantment of Princess 
White Flame, and learned at the same 
time about the Earth Fairy’s imprison- 
ment. After that he could not rest until 
he had found the way to the place where 
she was confined. 

During all the years that the Earth 
Fairy had been locked in her prison, 
she had known nothing of what went 
on outside of it. She neither knew of 
the wondrous Veil in the Wise One’s 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


79 


ancient chest, nor that it was expected 
that a Prince would some day come who 
would set the Princess free. 

Because of her long imprisonment 
her hatred of King Red Flame burned 
all the more intensely, but deprived as 
she now was of every means of working 
magic, she could neither escape, nor 
wreak further vengeance upon h^t 
master. 

One day, as she sat in a corner of 
her cell nursing her anger, she heard 
her fairy keeper come to her door and 
try it carefully to see that it was still 
securely fastened. Then his footsteps 
retreated, and she knew that he had 
gone away with his companions for a 
short rest under the trees as was his daily 
custom. 

Hardly had the sound of his footsteps 
faded away when a faint rustle outside 


80 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

the door caught her ear, and a voice that 
was unknown to her softly called her 
name. 

Making no noise she crept to the key- 
hole and peered through. A figure 
stood near it, wrapped in a long black 
mantle, with a black velvet cap pulled 
low over his forehead. From his face 
she knew that he was an evil fairy, but 
he was a stranger, and fearing that he 
might be an enemy she made no answer. 

Her visitor was not discouraged. He 
called to her again, and told her that he 
was Flying Soot. Finding that she still 
made no reply, he assured her that he 
was a friend, and began at once to give 
her what news he could of King Red 
Flame and the Princess. At that the 
Earth Fairy answered him willingly, 
and harkened with eagerness to what he 
had to say. They talked for some time, 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 81 

but as soon as the keeper was heard 
returning, Flying Soot scurried off. 
After that he came from time to time 
to see her and bring the news, and the 
knowledge that the Princess was still 
but a flame, always filled the Earth 
Fairy with wicked satisfaction. 

On the day that Prince Radiance 
found and talked with Princess White 
Flame in the palace garden, Flying 
Soot passed near them on his way to die 
Earth Fairy’s prison. 

Hearing their voices he drew near 
stealthily, and listened to them. As soon 
as Prince Radiance departed, away 
rushed the mischief-maker to the Earth 
Fairy. It was the hour when the keeper 
was absent, so that he flew straight to 
the door without pause. 

“Earth Fairy! Earth Fairy!” he 
called, placing his lips to the keyhole. 


82 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

“Come close and listen; I have great 
news!” 

The Earth Fairy sprang to the door 
at once. “What is it?” demanded she, 
“Tell me quickly.” 

“A Prince has come,” he told her. 
“A Prince who swears to break the 
power of your spell.” 

From the Earth Fairy’s lips burst a 
laugh of scorn. “Let him try as he 
may,” she declared, “he will never suc- 
ceed.” 

“Be not too sure of that,” warned 
Flying Soot. “This Prince spoke with 
the Princess of a magic Veil, which he 
has but to cast over her to restore her 
at once to her true form.” 

For a moment the Earth Fairy was 
quite speechless with astonishment and 
dismay; then she cried aloud, “A Veil! 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 83 

A magic Veil that will set the Princess 
free!” 

“Yes,” replied her companion, 
“Already the Prince has gone to fetch 
it from where it lies hidden in the chest 
of the Wise One. Soon he will return 
to where the Princess awaits him in the 
garden, and presently, my dear Earth 
Fairy, the spell that you wrought with 
such care will be a thing of naught.” 

“No, no !” screamed the Earth Fairy, 
“Never, never shall this be! I must 
escape. You must help me to escape at 
once, and prevent it!” 

Flying Soot shook his head doubt- 
fully. 

“How can I enable you to escape 
from a prison so strong, and so securely 
locked?” 

“It takes but a key to open the strong- 


8 4 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


est lock,” insisted the Earth Fairy. 
“You must overpower the keeper. You 
must obtain the key — and let me out.” 

In the beginning Flying Soot was un- 
willing to try, but when the Earth 
Fairy presently spoke of rewarding him 
for his services, he agreed to do as she 
wished. 

“First you must release me,” com- 
manded she. “Then you must hasten to 
the Palace of Burning Coals, and bring 
forth my bundle of wands from a hid- 
ing place that I will tell you of. When 
you have brought them to me, I will 
bestow one of them upon you as your 
reward.” 

Now Flying Soot knew well that a 
Soot Fairy can work no magic with the 
wand of a Fire Fairy unless he is taught 
its secret. “Promise that you will 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 85 

surely show me how to use it,” said he, 
“and I will do as you ask.” 

“Yes, yes, of course,” agreed the 
Earth Fairy impatiently. “Only be 
swift about your task, and the secret 
shall be yours.” 

Satisfied with her reply, Flying Soot 
went his way. In the darkness of her 
cell the Earth Fairy waited, scarcely 
able to breathe, so fearful was she that 
the Prince might return from the Wise 
One and disenchant the Princess before 
she had time to interfere. 

It was but a little while, however, 
before she heard the stealthy footsteps of 
Flying Soot returning. It was but a 
moment more till she heard the great 
key turn in the lock, and saw the door 
flung wide open. 

“Come out quickly,” whispered her 


86 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

deliverer. “Your keepers, blinded with 
soot, grope hither and thither utterly be- 
wildered. Together we must contrive 
to shove them into your prison, and lock 
them up in your place. After that you 
will be able to go on your way in 
safety.” 

Instantly, the Earth Fairy sprang to 
his help, and so skillfully did the two 
evil fairies jostle the keepers against one 
another and guide them to the prison 
door, that soon they were lodged in the 
Earth Fairy’s cell. Then the key was 
turned upon them, and they were left 
to grope clumsily about in the darkness, 
while the Earth Fairy and her compan- 
ion hurried to the safe shelter of a 
thicket. There the Earth Fairy told 
Flying Soot where she had hidden her 
wands, and bade him haste to bring them 
to her, 5Vhen he had departed upon his 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 87 

errand the Earth Fairy huddled low 
among the bushes to await his coming 
with what patience she might. 

In spite, of the years that had passed 
since the Earth Fairy had hidden her' 
wands, none had discovered the place 
where they lay. So crafty a messenger 
was Flying Soot that he obtained them 
unseen, and without difficulty, and soon 
returned to where the Earth Fairy was 
concealed. He laid the bundle in her 
outstretched hand. 

Trembling with anxiety, the Earth 
Fairy opened the case, and ran her 
fingers over the wands to test their 
power. The Green Wand shot forth 
emerald fire from its tip as she took it 
from among the rest. It was as full of 
magic as on that far-off day when with 
it she had so cruelly enchanted the baby 
Princess. 


88 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


With covetous eyes Fying Soot 
looked upon it. “Ah!” cried he, “that 
is the wand of my desire. That shall be 
my well-earned reward.” He stretched 
his hand to take it from her, but the 
Earth Fairy waved him back with an 
imperious gesture. 

“Touch not the Green Wand,” she 
Commanded. “To do so is to destroy 
yourself.” She laid it back in its place 
and took out in it its stead a small dark 
wand. This she extended to him say- 
ing, “Here is the one which is for you.” 
With indignant words he would have 
spurned it, but she checked his com- 
plaints abruptly. “It will serve you 
well, if you but know its secret,” she told 
him, “See — in this its magic dwells.” 
With a last envious look at the Green 
Wand, Flying Soot cast aside his anger, 
and watched her narrowly while she 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 89 

showed him how to use her gift. Still 
a little ungraciously he received it, and 
hid it in his mantle. 

The Earth Fairy stopping for no fare- 
well, gathered up her bundle of wands, 
and hurried to the spot where Flying 
Soot had told her the Princess awaited 
the coming of Prince Radiance. There 
at the foot of the great fire oak she saw 
her, flushing and paling with glorious 
light. She was thinking of the wonder- 
ful happiness that had come to her, but 
suddenly she became aware that a 
stranger was approaching. Looking up 
she beheld the Earth Fairy. 

Quickly the Earth Fairy advanced 
till she. stood before the Princess, and 
without waiting to be addressed, an- 
nounced her errand. 

“Your Highness,” she said, “I am a 
messenger from Prince Radiance. He 


go PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

cannot return to you as he had ex- 
pected; but he has sent me to ask you to 
let me guide you to where he waits for 
you.” 

Princess White Flame regarded her 
doubtfully. “You are a stranger to 
me,” she replied. “How may I know 
that you are in truth a messenger from 
the Prince?” 

“Ah,” cried the Earth Fairy, “will 
you not trust me? Alas ! If you do not, 
the Prince can never disenchant you, 
for the Wise One has assured him that 
unless you come to where Prince Radi- 
ance now awaits you, the Veil will have 
no power over you.” 

For a moment the Princess regarded 
the face of the wicked one closely. It 
bore a kind and innocent look. Still 
she felt undecided. 

“Hasten, Your Highness!” entreated 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


9i 


the Earth Fairy. “Hasten, I beg of 
you, lest its magic be lost to you both.” 

The Princess White Flame hesitated 
no longer. “Lead on,” she said, “and I 
will follow.” 

Rejoiced that she had been able to per- 
suade the Princess so easily, the Earth 
Fairy passed at once out of the Garden, 
and away from the Palace of Burning 
Coals, and close beside her fluttered the 
white flame of the Princess. 

Silently they traveled, and after a time 
the country through which they were 
passing began to look strange to the 
Princess. Yet, though they went on and 
on, she still saw no sign of Prince Radi- 
ance. At last she began to question the 
Earth Fairy, who always replied that 
they had but a short distance farther 
to go. 

The lovely flame-colored and yellow 


92 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

trees of the Land of the Fire Fairies had 
been left far behind; the little birds that 
make a music in the Fire Kingdom like 
none elsewhere, were heard no more: 
the beautiful palaces, the shining gar- 
dens, where happy fairies worked and 
played, had vanished. On all sides rose 
dull red caves, huge heaps of ash, or 
high black walls of soot, ugly and for- 
bidding. 

Hideous creatures crept away into 
darkness as they drew near, or peered 
out upon them from hiding-places as 
they passed. 

Princess White Flame shuddered, and 
her light grew pale and dim. “Whither 
are you leading me?” she cried faintly, 
“Answer truly, for I will go no further.” 

The Earth Fairy laughed mockingly. 
“Well may you ask,” she replied. “Evil 
for you was the hour when you left your 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


93 


garden to follow me. Behold in me the 
Earth Fairy — your parents’ enemy and 
yours.” 

A great trembling seized the unfortu- 
nate Princess. In this terrible land, 
helpless in the power of this wicked 
fairy, how could she hope ever again to 
see the Prince who had won her heart? 
How could she hope ever again to re- 
turn to her father in the Palace of Burn- 
ing Coals? 

Coldly and cruelly the voice of the 
Earth Fairy came to her in her despair. 

“Many years was I a prisoner by 
King Red Flame’s command, and dark 
and dreary was my cell. Now my turn 
for vengeance has come, and you may 
be well assured that in the place that I 
have chosen for you, neither the beauty 
of your voice, nor your flashing bright- 
ness shall avail you aught.” 


94 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

Before them yawned a black and nar- 
row cave, its walls hung thick with soot. 
From under her cloak the Earth Fairy 
drew her Green Wand. She extended it 
over the Princess, and pointed to the 
cave. “By the power of my Green 
iWand I command you to enter,” she 
cried. 

From the wand streamed a magic so 
potent that the poor Princess had no 
power to resist it. With a low cry of 
anguish, she bowed herself, and disap- 
peared into the darkness of the cave. 

Calling all her evil magic to her aid, 
the Earth Fairy drew down the walls of 
the cave and sealed them. She listened 
to make sure that no sound could make 
its way from within. Then she returned 
her wand to its place, and flitted away 
over the desolate plain. As she went she 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


95 


murmured gleefully, “Ah! that was 
well done. Now I know for a certainty 
that nothing good can ever come to 
Princess White Flame.” 



CHAPTER VII 

H ARDLY had Princess White 
Flame departed with the Earth 
Fairy when Prince Radiance returned 
to the garden. 

Great was his astonishment to find 
the Princess no longer there. Believ- 
ing, however, that she had gone but for 
a moment he sat down beneath the 
flame-red tree to wait for her return. 

Many moments passed, and she did 
not come, and at last the Prince rose to 

96 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


97 


seek her through the garden, calling 
softly as he went, “Princess, dear Prin- 
cess White Flame, where are you?” 

But none answered him through the 
stillness, and again he cried, “White 
Flame, dear White Flame — it is I, 
Prince Radiance. Answer — ah an- 
swer me!” Yet up and down the bloom- 
ing spaces of the garden he sought her, 
and called to her in vain. Presently he 
came to a wide avenue, and entering it 
found himself erelong before a great 
and shining palace. It was the Palace 
of Burning Coals, and through its open 
doors and windows he could see the Fire 
Fairies going to and fro about their 
appointed tasks. Hoping that here he 
might learn where to find the Princess, 
he ascended the steps to the bright door, 
and told his errand to the fairy who 
guarded it. 


98 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

“In this palace dwells the Princess,” 
answered the Fire Fairy. “She is King 
Red Flame’s daughter.” 

“Take me to His Majesty then,” com- 
manded Prince Radiance, “for I would 
have speech with him.” 

So he was brought before King Red 
Flame without delay. In the great hall 
of the Palace sat the King. It was that 
time of evening when the Princess was 
jvont to bear him company, but she had 
not yet come, and he was beginning to 
jvonder why she tarried. 

When Prince Radiance, guided by 
the Fire Fairy, was shown into the royal 
presence the King gave him hearty wel- 
come, [With transports of joy he learned 
how the Prince had heard and loved 
Princess White Flame in her garden, 
how he had gone to obtain the mystic 
Veil from the Wise One, and had been 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


99 

successful where countless who had 
come there before him had failed. Great 
was the King’s surprise, however, when 
he learned that Prince Radiance had re- 
turned to the garden, only to find the 
Princess gone. 

“It is not like my daughter to break 
a promise,” he said, “especially one of 
such great moment. Why she has done 
so, I cannot even guess, but I will send 
for her at once, and she shall speak for 
herself.” 

A messenger was dispatched immedi- 
ately to summon the Princess. He was 
gone for some time, but at length re- 
turned to say that nowhere in the palace 
had he been able to find her. 

Then the King sent for Grey Smoke, 
for none knew so well as she where her 
young mistress was most likely to be 
found. Yet though Grey Smoke made 


ioo PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

a most thorough search in every nook 
and corner of the palace, though she 
went to the top of its highest tower, and 
looked anxiously without in every direc- 
tion, no where could she catch a glimpse 
of that pure white flame that was the 
spirit of the Princess, nor hear the music 
of her well-loved voice. 

L When she returned to her master to 
say that her quest also had been fruit- 
less, the King became very much 
alarmed. 

“Let the palace grounds be searched, 
once more,” he commanded. “Let no 
spot be overlooked. Let none rest until 
my daughter has been found.” 

Anxiously the Fire Fairies one and all 
set forth to seek her. Yet more anxiously 
King Red Flame and Prince Radiance 
awaited their return. 

Suddenly a tumult arose outside the 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME ioi 

palace walls, and immediately after the 
Earth Fairy’s head-keeper, his eyes still 
half-blinded with soot, stumbled into the 
King’s presence. Close behind him 
came a crowd of excited Fire Fairies. 
The head-keeper threw himself at King 
Red Flame’s feet. “Your Majesty ! Oh, 
Your Majesty!” he moaned. “In some 
strange manner the wicked Earth Fairy 
has escaped, while we, her keepers, 
blinded with soot have been imprisoned 
in her stead. Forgive us, oh forgive us 
we beg, that this should ever have come 
to pass.” 

“Escaped! The Earth Fairy es- 
caped!” thundered King Red Flame, 
aghast at such evil tidings. 

“Escaped. The Earth Fairy es- 
caped!” shrieked all the fairies who 
were clustered in the palace hall. “Oh ! 
Oh ! That this should be !” 


102 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


Old Grey Smoke bowed her head be- 
tween her shoulders. “If this be true,” 
mourned she, “then the Princess is in- 
deed lost.” 

Filled with consternation the King 
looked down upon the head-keeper still 
crouched at his feet. “Speak,” he com- 
manded, “and tell me how this has come 
to pass.” 

“Surely Sire, it must have been the 
work of a spell,” began the head-keeper, 
“Nothing else could have brought such 
calamity upon us.” Then he went on 
to tell what had happened. As his tale 
proceeded the King listened intently, 
and all the Fire Fairies drew closer that 
they might not miss a word. 

“And by what means have you now 
escaped?” demanded the King, as the 
head-keeper paused for breath. 

“But a moment since, Your Majesty, 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 103 

one of our number contrived to wrench 
away the lock of the cell-door, and im- 
mediately I hastened here to warn you 
that the Earth Fairy is abroad, and that 
the Princess may be in danger.” 

“Alas!” groaned King Red Flame, 
“The Earth Fairy is doubtless already 
at work, for the Princess is nowhere to 
be found.” 

Hearing this, the head-keeper began 
to beat himself upon the breast. “The 
Princess lost! The Princess White 
Flame lost, and we the cause!” 

“Ay!” replied his master sternly, 
“you, the Earth Fairy’s careless keepers, 
were the cause. Had you not deserted 
your post, this great misfortune could 
never have fallen upon us.” He turned 
to a trusted servant. “Take away this 
faithless keeper,” he commanded, “and 
place him and his companions under 


104 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


strict guard, there to remain until my 
daughter, Princess White Flame, is re- 
stored to me.” 

So the keeper was taken away, still 
beating his breast, and crying aloud in 
vain remorse. 

All about the palace hall stood the 
Fire Fairies weeping and lamenting, 
for the Princess was dearly loved. 

Then the King turned to the old 
nurse. “Come, my good Grey Smoke,” 
said he, “give me of your wise counsel. 
How shall I best seek my beloved 
daughter?” 

But before Grey Smoke could an- 
swer, Prince Radiance sprang to the 
King’s side, and laid his hand upon the 
monarch’s arm. 

“Your Majesty,” he implored, “re- 
member that I, also, love the Princess. 
I claim the right to seek her, for have I 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 105 

not the magic gifts of the Wise One, 
and shall not my love guide me to her 
rescue? Fear not. By the aid of these 
I will surely bring her back to the 
Palace of Burning Coals, not as you saw 
her last, indeed — but in her true form, 
freed forever from the Earth Fairy’s 
spell.” 

Looking upon the ardent and hopeful 
face of the young Prince, hearing his 
earnest words, the heart of King Red 
Flame was deeply stirred, and strangely 
comforted. He stretched forth his arms, 
and drew him to his breast. 

“Go, my son,” he said, tenderly. “Go, 
and all good fortune follow you. Bring 
back my beloved daughter to her home 
once more. So shall you gladden her 
father’s heart, and win happiness for 
yourself and her.” 



CHAPTER VIII 

B ACK across the dismal land 
through which she had led the 
Princess, flitted the Earth Fairy. Freed 
though she now was from her long im- 
prisonment, she yet hoped for even 
greater liberty. When Flying Soot had 
told her that the Veil had power to dis- 
enchant the Princess, she felt sure that 
it would have a like magic influence 
over herself; that if she could but obtain 
it, and cast it about her that she should 
once more become a true Earth Fairy. 

106 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


107 


Should this come to pass, she would flee 
forever from the Land of Fire which 
she so hated, to her own people and her 
own home. 

Therefore she determined to go in 
search of the Prince, and by means of 
her wands wrest from him the coveted 
Veil. She knew that it would soon be 
discovered that Princess White Flame 
was no longer in her father’s kingdom, 
and she believed that Prince Radiance 
would then come to seek the Princess in 
the Land of the Evil Fairies. She her- 
self would be in wait for him near the 
boundary and would endeavor to over- 
power him there. 

So rapidly did she journey that she 
soon reached the borders of the Land 
of the Fire Fairies, and began to watch 
for the coming of the Prince. 

Some time had passed before she be- 


108 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

held a scarlet cloaked figure approach- 
ing, looking eagerly on all sides, as if 
in search of someone. From what Fly- 
ing Soot had told her she knew that it 
was Prince Radiance. She crept to 
meet him, concealing herself cleverly 
from sight as she went. 

When she was but a short distance 
from him she stopped and opened her 
bundle of wands. She had taken out 
the Green Wand, and was about to use 
it, when she paused. Well did she know 
that she had none other so powerful, 
none other that could so fully work her 
will. By this she held the Princess com- 
petely under her sway. Upon the 
Prince she was unwilling to risk it 
unless all else failed. She laid it back 
among the rest and took up another that 
she had aways trusted. Waving it to- 
ward the Prince she murmured the 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 109 

words of a spell so potent that she ex- 
pected to see him fall instantly to the 
ground unable to speak or to move. But 
it was as though the spell had never been 
uttered. The Prince continued on his 
way as before, and the Earth Fairy 
knew by this that all power had de- 
parted from her wand. She cast it away, 
and selecting another without hesita- 
tion, she followed close after him, re- 
peating the words of her spell. This 
time also, the spell was of no avail ; the 
second wand became as useless as the 
first, and was discarded in its turn. 

“Truly there must be magic in this 
that will overpower him,” she muttered, 
taking out the third. “Never before has 
this one failed me.” Yet the third wand 
had no more power than the rest. One 
by one, she tried them all, until there 
was none left but the Green Wand. She 


no PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


looked at it longingly, but dared nof 
risk it. Should it too be useless before 
this mysterious influence that protected 
the Prince she would have nothing at all 
by which to work her will. 

She ceased to follow Prince Radi- 
ance, and sat down to think of what she 
should do in order to carry out her pur- 
pose. 

Pondering deeply, she did not know 
that someone had approached her from 
behind, and was standing close beside 
her. It was Flying Soot. He waited a 
few moments but finding that the Earth 
Fairy was too much engaged to be 
aware of his presence, he tapped her 
upon the arm. “Well, my good friend,” 
he began, “how have your affairs pros- 
pered since you left me so abruptly in 
the palace gardens?” 

The Earth Fairy looked up with a 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


hi 


start. No one had been further from 
her thoughts than Flying Soot. 

“Do not disturb me,” she answered 
impatiently, “I am thinking over an im- 
portant matter in which you can be of 
no use to me.” 

“Do not be too certain of 'that,” the 
Soot Fairy replied. “Remember that 
you are now in a land where I have 
many and powerful friends.” 

The Earth Fairy had not realized 
that. At his words, she suddenly began 
to wonder if some of these wicked 
fairies of which he spoke, might be able 
to help her to obtain what she so desired. 
Instantly she changed her tone. 

“Hark you,” she said, “I believe you 
told me of a magic Veil that the Prince 
was to obtain from the Wise One. I 
have decided that I want this Veil for 
myself. I have tried all my wands upon 


112 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


the Prince in an effort to take it from 
him, but they have failed. One alone I 
have not tried. It is the Green Wand 
which rules the Princess White Flame. 
This I am unwilling to risk — for the 
present at least. Have you, perhaps, 
among your friends, any who is suffi- 
ciently powerful to overcome Prince 
Radiance, so that I can take from him 
this Veil?” 

Flying Soot threw back his black 
mantle from his shoulder with a confi- 
dent gesture. “To be sure I have,” he 
assured her, “and if the first should not 
succeed there are many others who 
would be willing to try.” 

“There is one difficulty,” the Earth 
Fairy warned him, “I can offer no re- 
ward.” 

“Do not let that trouble you,” was the 
reply. “The friends whom I shall ask 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


”3 


to assist you are too proud to receive 
rewards. They are sufficiently pleased 
when they have succeeded in accom- 
plishing the mischief they set out to per- 
form.” 

This was good news to the Earth 
Fairy. Her face shone with satisfaction. 

“There is one thing that you must do, 
however,” continued Flying Soot. “You 
must contrive to lure the Prince to my 
friends, for they are far too haughty to 
seek him, even to do him harm. Is there 
any plan by which you can do this?” 

For a time the Earth Fairy sat 
plunged in thought. Then she sprang 
up clapping her hands in delight. “Ay,” 
cried she, “that I can. I will compel 
the Princess herself to lure him on. 
Well has my Green Wand proved its 
power over her, and she it is who shall 
lead him to his destruction.” 


i H PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

“How shall this be done?” inquired 
her companion. 

“That is simple enough,” replied the 
Earth Fairy. “You have but to tell me 
whither I must bring the Prince. Then 
while you have gone to enlist the ser- 
yices of this friend whom you have 
chosen, I will release the Princess, will 
seek out the Prince, and bring him by 
her influence to the appointed place.” 

He gave her most careful instruc- 
tions as to where she would find him. 
“And now,” said he, when he had made 
everything clear, “I go to engage my 
friend the Giant of the Wide Grey Plain 
to assist you. You need have no fear. 
He will agree to do so. As soon as you 
arrive with your Prince you will find 
him ready.” He rose from his seat, 
shook out his black mantle, and quickly 
vanished in the distance. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME ii S 

The Earth Fairy on her part, hastened 
to the cave where the Princess White 
Flame was imprisoned. Carefully she 
unwove the spell which sealed its walls, 
and in a loud voice she commanded the 
Princess to come forth. Out of the 
yawning entrance glimmered the flame, 
pale and faint, but still of a pure and 
beautiful whiteness. 

The Earth Fairy drew out her Green 
Wand, and held it aloft. “Go where I 
bid you,” she cried, “and delay not.” 

Unable to resist the spell of the Green 
Wand, the Princess without word or 
sound, flitted rapidly away with her en- 
chantress to seek the Prince. 

Meanwhile Prince Radiance, know- 
ing nothing of the attempt that the Earth 
Fairy had already made to destroy him, 
proceeded on his quest. All across the 
JYid<e Grey Plain where he now was, 


n6 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

are scattered hills and mounds of ash 
in great number, and so much alike in 
size and shape are they, that the traveler 
often becomes confused and knows not 
which way to direct his steps. Thus it 
was with Prince Radiance, and at last 
quite bewildered he stood still, and 
looked about him, seeking for some- 
thing to guide him. It was while he did 
so, that suddenly he saw gleaming in the 
distance a flame so pure and lovely that 
he could not doubt that it was the spirit 
of his Princess. In an ecstasy of joy he 
threw out his arms to it. “White Flame ! 
Ah my beloved White Flame,” he cried, 
“can it be that I have in truth found you 
so much sooner than I had dared to 
hope?” 

Quickly He hastened toward her, 
drawing nearer and yet nearer until he 
was sure that she could hear his voice. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


117 


“Princess,” he called to her. “Wait, 
ah, wait until I reach you. See, it is I, 
Prince Radiance, who follow. I bring 
with me the Veil that is to set you free.” 
He expected her to pause; but it was 
not so. Slowly, yet steadily she retreated 
from him, and as she went her well loved 
yoice floated back to him, not singing 
sweetly, as when he had heard it in her 
garden, but weeping, and in anguish. 

“Ah me, ah me, dear Radiance!” she 
sobbed, “the Earth Fairy has cast a 
second and more cruel spell upon me, 
that causes me to flee as you draw near.” 

So overwhelmed with grief was the 
Prince by the news of this fresh misfor- 
tune that at first he was stricken dumb, 
but presently hope and courage sprang 
afresh within his breast. 

Across the distance that widened be- 


n8 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


tween them his answer rang tender and 
undismayed. 

“Go where you must, my Princess, I 
will surely follow. No power, however 
strong, no spell, however potent, can suf- 
fice to daunt my love. Believe always 
that I will surely overtake and save you 
in the end.” 

Princess White Flame heard him, and 
took comfort. The Earth Fairy heard 
him, and rejoiced, for now she knew 
that without doubt she could lead him 
where she would. Keeping herself out 
of sight, she drove the Princess away 
and away in the direction that Flying 
Soot had gone, and unswervingly Prince 
Radiance pursued the ever brightening 
flame. 



CHAPTER IX 

VAY went Flying Soot at full speed 



until he came to the Seven Hills 
of Ash. There in a great hollow be- 
tween them .crouched the Giant of the 
Wide Grey Plain. He was grumbling 
and grumbling to himself, for no one 
had invited him to join them in any evil 
magic for a long while. So he was hav- 
ing a terribly stupid time of it, and 
wished with all -his heart that something 
would happen that would give him a 
chance to show his power. 

Flying Soot stole up to him unseen, 
and softly .touched his elbow. 


120 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


The Giant turned with so tremendous 
a start that masses of ash were shaken 
loose from the Seven Hills, and fell in 
clouds into the hollow. “So it is you, 
Fying Soot!” he cried joyfully. “That 
means there is good prospect of mischief 
afoot.” 

“Ay,” replied Flying jSoot, “that 
there is.” He found a seat on a soft 
bank close to the Giant, who at once 
prepared himself to hear interesting 
news. 

Flying Soot began *forthwith to tell 
him about the Earth Fairy, who he said 
had sent him to ask the Giant’s aid 
against a young Prince who would soon 
be traveling that way. “He will be pre- 
ceded by a flame, who is the enchanted 
Princess whom he loves,” said he. “She 
it is, who, under the Earth Fairy’s spell, 
leads him on to danger. We wish you 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


I2X 


to destroy the Prince if you can. At 
any rate you must completely overpower 
him, in order that the Earth Fairy may 
take from him a Veil which he carries, 
and which she greatly covets.” 

“Surely this Veil must be endowed 
with marvelous power,” exclaimed the 
Giant, “if the Earth Fairy is so anxious 
to secure it.” 

“True,” Flying Soot made haste to 
answer ; “but it possesses this power only 
in the hands of the Prince, or of the 
Earth Fairy. To you or to others it 
would be of no use whatever.” 

“Well, well,” growled the Giant, “she 
may have it and welcome for all I care. 
Why should I wish for a wretched Veil 
so long as I have my Cloak with which 
to work my will.” 

“Why should you, indeed?” agreed 
the Soot Fairy. “What is a trifle like a 


122 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


Veil, compared to a Cloak so wonderful 
as yours?” 

Flattered by the words of Flying Soot, 
the Giant was now ready to exert him- 
self to the utmost, and could hardly wait 
for the arrival of the Prince. 

“Be sure that you do no harm to the 
Princess,” Flying Soot warned him. 
“The Earth Fairy herself will see to her. 
It is the Prince alone upon whom you 
are to exercise your power.” 

“I shall remember,” replied the Giant. 
“Say no more, but come and watch for 
them with me. Through this opening be- 
tween the Seven Hills we can surely see 
them as they approach.” Flying Soot 
did as the Giant bade him and together 
they watched and waited for some time. 

At last, in the distance, they beheld a 
flashing brightness coming steadily to- 
ward the place where they lay in wait, 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 123 

and close behind it followed a figure 
well known to Flying Soot. 

“See!” he whispered, gripping the 
Giant’s arm. “The Princess comes, and 
the Prince hastens after. There also is 
my friend the Earth Fairy.” 

“Ay,” answered the Giant with a 
malicious chuckle. “They are coming 
fast. Go farther from me, Flying Soot, 
that I may have room to use my Cloak.” 
Flying Soot obeyed, and the Giant be- 
gan to make ready. 

He loosed his huge grey Cloak from 
his neck, dragged it from his shoulders, 
and gathered its collar firmly in his 
hand. Then he crouched down once 
more behind the hill nearest to the ap- 
proaching travelers. So like to the' 
ashes in color was the Giant’s great 
body that he was almost indistinguish- 
able, as with eyes glued to the opening 


124 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

in the side of the hill, he awaited the 
moment when the Prince should arrive. 

Prince Radiance gave heed only to 
the Princess. With his gaze fixed upon 
her flashing light, he followed its guid- 
ance across the Wide Grey Plain. As 
he sped on and on, he kept ever before 
him the hope that by some means he 
might be able to bridge the distance be- 
tween them. So, before he realized it, 
he had reached the Seven Hills of Ash, 
and the danger that lurked behind them. 

The Giant’s time had come. Silently, 
swiftly he rose, and towered above the 
hills that had sheltered him. With a 
sweep of his mighty arm he flung out 
his cloak and cast it like a grey wall be- 
tween the Prince and the Princess. 
Deftly he caught Prince Radiance in its 
folds, and before the Prince could 
make the least effort to free himself, the 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 125 

Giant raised his Cloak high in air, and 
set it spinning about his head like an 
enormous revolving cloud. Larger it 
grew, flying faster and faster the while, 
and at every turn its stifling folds set- 
tled closer about the captive Prince. 

The hoarse laughter of the Giant 
roared in his ears like thunder. Half 
choked, the Prince beat back the Cloak 
from his face, and struggled violently 
to escape. But round and round spun 
the Cloak as the Giant whirled his 
powerful arm, and Prince Radiance 
only exhausted himself against its 
tightening clasp, in vain. 

The Giant’s dull eyes began to glitter 
for he knew that none could resist his 
evil Cloak for very long. Safe hidden 
within the hollow between the Hills of 
Ash, Flying Soot peered out upon them, 
and near him hovered the cruel Earth 


126 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


Fairy, ready to dart out and seize the 
treasure that she coveted as soon as the 
Giant’s victory was gained. Princess 
White Flame, stricken with grief and 
dismay at the sudden disappearance of 
the Prince, quivered alone and help- 
less where the Earth Fairy held her in 
thrall. 

Gladly the Prince would have drawn 
his sword to slash his way through the 
Giant’s great Cloak, but he could not 
free his arms sufficiently to do so. Thus 
he seemed entirely without a weapon 
that he could use in his own defense, and 
he was about to give himself up for lost, 
when suddenly he remembered the Grey 
Pouch at his side. He remembered also 
the words of the giver, “It will help you 
out of many a danger — out of many a 
difficulty.” 

“May it not be that it will help me 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 127 

now?” murmured the Prince faintly. 
“Ah, if it does not, then all hope of 
escape is gone.” 

By a great effort he slipped his hand 
down to his side. With shaking fingers 
he undid the clasp of his Pouch and 
reached for the glowing coal that lay 
within. He drew it forth, and felt, as he 
did so that it was on fire with magic. 
He pressed it against the Giant’s Cloak. 
Immediately a hole appeared in its folds, 
which widened rapidly. The air rushed 
in, reviving the Prince with its freshness 
and giving him zeal and new courage. 
So well did he use his weapon then, that 
presently he had before him a great 
opening in the thick folds through 
which he could pass with ease. 

The Cloak in the Giant’s hands was 
still whirling at tremendous speed. 
Prince Radiance, looking out through 


128 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


the opening saw the Seven Hills of Ash 
and the Wide Grey Plain spinning 
dizzily round and round far beneath 
him. Yet he was not afraid. He pre- 
pared himself to leap from the opening 
that he had made, when suddenly the 
Giant hurled his Cloak violently for- 
ward. Instantly the Prince was thrown 
through the air with such force that he 
was driven far out of reach or sight of 
his enemies. His scarlet mantle spread 
itself about him like great wings that 
bore him swiftly on and on, until at last 
it settled slowly and allowed him to 
alight in a place of safety. 

The Giant, unaware that Prince Ra- 
diance was no longer in his power, 
gave his huge Cloak an abrupt twist. 
Immediately it shrunk to its former size, 
and he threw it down into the hollow be- 




* 




PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 131 

tween the Seven Hills. Then he turned 
to the Earth Fairy triumphantly. 

“Come now, and take what you de- 
sire,” he roared, “for this miserable 
Prince is without doubt completely de- 
stroyed.” 

Forth rushed the wicked Earth Fairy 
in a tremor of delight, sure that she was 
about to possess the Veil. With greedy 
hands she flung aside the folds of the 
Giant’s Cloak; with greedy hands she 
searched within its folds ; but search as 
she would, she could find nothing. 
Unable to believe in such ill-fortune she 
tore the Cloak to right and left, but at 
last she knew for a certainty that the 
Prince was not there. 

In a rage she turned upon the Giant. 
“Miserable creature, see what you have 
done!” she screamed. “With the Prince 
completely in your grasp as he was, you 


i 3 2 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

have been so stupid as to allow him to 
escape.” 

The Giant could not believe it pos- 
sible. He stooped over the Cloak, and 
himself examined each one of its great 
folds, but at last he was convinced that 
the Earth Fairy was right. The Prince 
was indeed gone, and the great hole 
burned in the Cloak showed plainly the 
manner of his escape. Vexed as he was, 
his vexation changed quickly to anger 
as the Earth Fairy continued to pour 
contempt upon him for his failure, and 
to upbraid Flying Soot for having 
brought her to so worthless an ally. 

Springing up in uncontrollable fury 
at her insolence, the Giant shouted 
threats at her at the top of his lungs. 

Flying Soot saw that he must inter- 
fere at once. He bent down and whis- 
pered quickly to the Earth Fairy, “Do 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


133 


not tarry here an instant longer. You 
have made an enemy of the Giant. In 
another moment he will destroy us all. 
Come, let us go in quest of the Prince, 
for I have other friends who may serve 
you better than the Giant.” 

The crafty Earth Fairy perceived that 
he was right, and yielded herself at once 
to his advice. Away she fled with Fly- 
ing Soot across the Wide Grey Plain, 
taking with her the sorrowing Princess, 
and soon the Giant and his rage, and 
the Seven Hills of Ash lay far behind 
them. 

At last Flying Soot checked the Earth 
Fairy’s flight. “Let us stop here while I 
tell you what I mean to do,” he Said. 

The Earth Fairy was willing. She 
rested her Green Wand, and Princess 
White Flame ceased to go forward, but 
her captor made sure that the Princess 


i 3 4 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

was not near enough to herself and Fly- 
ing Soot to overhear anything that 
might be said. 

“The Prince as you know, has es- 
caped by the work of a magic coal,” 
began Flying Soot. “Against such a 
fairy weapon the Giant’s wondrous 
Cloak is powerless. But come — I will 
take you to one who will be proof 
against this — one whose weapons are 
such that the Prince cannot even ap- 
proach him to injure him. This power- 
ful friend of whom I speak is the Great 
Black Dragon, and his haunt is yonder 
in the Gloomy Vale. F rom here, as you 
see, it is not far distant. I will go at 
once to bespeak his aid. Go you, on 
your part, and find the Prince, and when 
you have brought him to the Dragon, 
you may be sure that you will find him 
ready to serve you. Then shall you dis- 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


*35 

cover also that I have not boasted of the 
Dragon’s power in vain.” 

Glad was the Earth Fairy to consent 
to what promised so well for her pur- 
pose, and presently they parted, each to 
go upon the errand set. 



CHAPTER X 

I N the Gloomy Vale the Great Black 
Dragon lay asleep with his head be- 
tween his paws. Around him, on all 
sides, stretched the black hillsides, with 
apparently no living creature but the 
Dragon to be seen. 

Yet as Flying Soot entered the valley 
on his mission for the Earth Fairy, dull- 
hued toads hopped away from his feet, 
and strange animals of hideous shapes 
left the nooks where they had lain sleep- 
ing to creep away and drowse again in 
136 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 137 

a more distant spot. Occasionally he 
saw fierce eyes glare out upon him from 
a dim thicket, or beheld the sharp claw 
or lashing tail of some evil creature 
whisking itself away from his view. 

Flying Soot knew them all, and feared 
them not. He passed unmolested on his 
way, and stopped within a yard of the 
Dragon, but so profound was the mon- 
ster’s sleep that he did not stir. 

“Awake, Sir Dragon!” cried Flying 
Soot, drawing nearer, “Awake!” 

The Dragon moved one claw a little 
in his slumber, but gave no other heed. 

Flying Soot drew nearer still. 
“Awake, Sir Dragon! Awake!” he 
shouted in his very ear. 

Then the Dragon gave a great yawn, 
and his eyelids slowly rose. 

“Ah, it is you, Flying Soot,” he 


138 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

grunted. “What is it that brings you 
here to disturb my rest?” 

“I come on an errand of importance,” 
answered the Soot Fairy. “One in 
which none can give such valuable aid 
as the Great Black Dragon of the 
Gloomy Vale.” 

His words pleased the Dragon. He 
moistened his lips and cheeks with his 
great tongue, and sat erect upon his 
haunches. “Let me hear your errand ” 
commanded he. 

So Flying Soot made haste to explain 
why he had come, and the Dragon im- 
mediately agreed to help the Earth 
Fairy. 

“Ho, ho!” he cried. “I shall vanquish 
this Prince quickly, you shall see, for 
when I choose to use them I have 
weapons of such power that none can 
stand out against them. Have no fear, 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 139’ 

Flying Soot. Trust all to me, and I as- 
sure you that you and your friend the 
Earth Fairy, shall not be disappointed.” 

Looking upon the monster’s huge 
form, his terrible claws, his fiercely 
lashing tail, Flying Soot knew that the 
Great Black Dragon had good cause to 
boast. 

“I leave the matter entirely to you,” 
said he. “There is one thing more, 
however, that you must promise me. 
You must on no account harm, or even 
touch the fairy Veil of which I have told 
you. Least of all must you attempt to 
take it for yourself. I assure you that 
it is of no value to any but the Prince 
or the Earth Fairy. For others it will 
work no charm.” 

The Dragon laughed loud and scorn- 
fully. “That matters naught to me,” he 
cried. “By the weapons that I carry 


I 4 0 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

always with me I am able to accomplish 
what things I please. Why then should 
I wish for a trifle like this Veil?” 

His mind entirely at rest upon that 
score, Flying Soot now sat himself 
down upon a black hillock close to the5 
Dragon, and sought to entertain him as 
they waited by giving him such bits of 
news as he had collected in his travels. 
The Dragon well pleased to have him 
do so, listened hungrily to every word. 

Meanwhile Prince Radiance, alone 
in a strange land, and still weary from 
his struggle with the Giant, sunk down 
upon a heap of ash and bowed his head. 
He wished to ponder well his course, 
before he again set out. Behind him 
lay that part of the Wide Grey Plain 
where the Giant dwelt who had so lately 
tried to destroy him. Before him, and 
at his left stretched a plain of ash. To 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


141 

his right a black country opened with 
low lying hills and valleys wherein 
might lurk unseen dangers for them 
both. 

As he sat there in indecision, the 
Earth Fairy coming in search of him, 
espied him from afar. 

Princess White Flame saw him also, 
and uttered a cry of joy. She needed 
not the spur of the Earth Fairy’s wand 
to drive her to him. Swiftly across the 
desolate waste she flitted until he was 
within sound of her voice. 

“Radiance, dear Radiance 1” she 
called to him, “What happiness is mine 
that I have found you once more !” 

Hearing that well-loved voice the 
Prince raised his head quickly and saw 
the Princess, not fleeing from him, but 
advancing toward him. Instantly he 
leaped to his feet, with arms out- 


142 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

stretched, crying in rapture, “Nay my 
Princess, what happiness is mine that 
you have returned to me once more!” 

He ran to her at full-speed and had 
well-nigh reached her, when suddenly 
Princess White Flame was again made 
sensible of the restraining wand of the 
Earth Fairy. Cruelly, inexorably, it 
drew her steadily away from the Prince 
into the black country at his right. 

Seeing the distance widening between 
them the Prince cried aloud with grief 
and disappointment. Sore as was his 
own heart, Prince Radiance neverthe- 
less called to her tenderly, hoping to 
support and comfort her. “Fear not, 
dearest White Flame,” he exclaimed. 
“Whither you go, there will I go also, 
and in the end my love shall conquer 
every spell.” 

At his words the courage of the 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


143 


Princess rose again, and with it came 
hope, even though she shivered as they 
presently entered that dark valley where 
the Dragon dwelt. At first it appeared 
to them quite deserted, for so close the 
monster lay to the black ground that he 
looked to be but a part of the vale itself. 
Thus White Flame passed over him and 
beyond him without suspecting his pres- 
ence, and Prince Radiance in his turn 
had advanced almost to the Dragon’s 
feet before he saw what lay in wait to 
bar his way. 

Aghast at the sudden appearance of 
this new foe, Prince Radiance fell back 
a pace to place himself on guard, scarce 
knowing how to defend himself against 
an enemy so ferocious. 

Then up rose the Dragon, black and 
terrible, a creature to strike terror to one 
less valiant than the Prince. “Yield 


144 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

you, Sir Prince,” he bellowed hoarsely, 
raising his bared claw in menace, 
“yield to the Master of the Gloomy 
Vale.” 

“I yield to none,” retorted Prince Ra- 
diance, fearlessly, “for I follow the 
Princess White Flame, and to her I 
must pass.” 

“None passes where the Great Black 
Dragon bars the way,” roared his 
enemy, “and none defies him but learns 
to rue his folly.” He crouched to 
spring; his hard and glittering eyes 
were fixed angrily upon the Prince, his 
tail lashed furiously from side to side. 

The Prince knew that he must defend 
himself without delay if he would escape 
destruction. Quickly he slipped his 
hand beneath his mantle to his good 
Grey Pouch, opened it, and drew forth 
a brimming handful of the fairy ash 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


*45 

that lay within. Thus was he armed 
against his foe. 

It was none too soon, for with a roar 
that shook the black hillsides the 
Dragon sprang toward him with out- 
stretched claws. The magic ash of the 
Wise One flew from the hand of Prince 
Radiance, and met him half-way. It 
fell full upon the bulging eye-balls of 
the Great Dragon, and smote him with 
instant blindness. A howl of astonish- 
ment and rage burst from him, but he 
was undismayed. Although he could 
no longer see to direct his weapons, he 
struck out boldly with his claw. Again 
the ashes met him and at their touch the 
Dragon’s terrible claw withered and 
fell powerless at his side. One by one 
his remaining claws met with the same 
fate. And now no weapon remained to 
him but his powerful tail — that great 


146 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


fail with which he had thought to beat 
the Prince to finest dust. 

But blinded as he was, he could strike 
only at random — could only lash it aim- 
lessly from side to side. This, the 
Dragon’s last weapon was soon ren- 
dered powerless also. Before the magic 
of the fairy ash it shriveled at the very 
root, and presently it trailed limp and 
juseless along the ground. 

The Earth Fairy, watching the battle, 
saw that the Dragon had also failed, and 
anger rose hot within her. Flying Soot 
was quick to perceive this, and hastened 
to conciliate her. He tapped her gently, 
upon the arm saying : “My good Earth 
Fairy, to my great surprise I find that 
the Great Black Dragon is no match for 
the Prince after all. But do not let that 
discourage you. I have yet another 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


147 


friend to whom I will take you, who is 
much more powerful than he.” 

The Earth Fairy cut him short in 
wrath. “Were you not certain that the 
Giant could help me?” said she. “Were 
you not equally certain that this won- 
derful Dragon was invincible? Speak 
not to me of this third friend of yours, 
I have no faith in him.” 

“Ah,” answered Flying Soot, “but 
how should I know that the Prince pos- 
sessed the fairy ash of the Wise One? 
This alone it is that has enabled him to 
overcome the Black Dragon. Neither 
this, nor the magic coal with which he 
burned the Giant’s cloak will avail him 
however against the great magician, 
Curling Smoke, to whom I now propose 
to take you.” 

“Nevertheless,” replied the Earth 
Fairy, “he wears a sword. Do you not 


x 4 8 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

see it? Who knows what fairy virtue 
may dwell therein?” 

Flying Soot laughed her to scorn. 
“Think you that if it possessed such 
fairy virtue that he would not long since 
have drawn this sword to cleave the 
Giant’s cloak, or to attack the Great 
Dragon? Nay, fear it not. ’Tis but a 
useless toy that he well knows will serve 
him not at all away from his father’s 
kingdom.” 

The Earth Fairy glanced to where 
the flame of the Princess trembled be- 
tween hope and fear for the Prince. She 
looked to where the Dragon groaning 
dismally lay close along the ground, his > 
head buried between his paws. She 
knew that here all chance of help for 
herself was completely gone. She had 
no plan of her own that promised more 
than this of Flying Soot. She had 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


149 


almost decided to consent to his pro- 
posal, when he caught at her sleeve. 
“Look quickly!” he cried, under his 
breath. “Do you not behold him there 
in the distance, my friend, Curling 
Smoke. See — there he rises in the plain 
beyond that dark hill. He is a marvel- 
ous magician. I am certain that he will 
not fail you. Do not be foolish, Earth 
Fairy. Permit me to go to him in your 
behalf. I assure you, you will not re- 
gret it.” 

Urged thus, the Earth Fairy gave her 
consent, and Flying Soot flew off in a 
twinkling upon his errand of evil. 

With the Dragon now fully van- 
quished Prince Radiance saw that he 
could at last pass on his way in safety. 
Leaving his enemy behind him he 
stepped boldly into the country beyond. 
There he discerned the flame of his 


i S o PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

Princess flickering pure and pale 
against a gloomy hillside. Swiftly he 
hastened toward her, and presently he 
found himself so near that he believed 
he could cast the Veil upon her from 
where he now stood. Trembling with 
eagerness he felt for the golden box in 
which the wondrous Veil lay hid — 
found it, and pressed upon the clasp. 

Alas for his hopes ! The keen eyes of 
the Earth Fairy saw what he was about 
to do. Before he could draw out the 
Veil or even undo the clasp, the Green 
Wand was lifted, and by its dread power 
the Princess was once more compelled 
to take her flight from him who would 
fain have delivered her. 

With a sinking heart Prince Radi- 
ance beheld her receding down the dark 
yalley, but with fresh rallying of his 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 151 

courage he called to her, “Princess, dear 
Princess, go if you must, but remember 
always that I follow — follow to the 
end.” 



CHAPTER XI 

W HERE the Gloomy Vale borders 
the plain beyond, rises the low- 
walled dwelling of the Ash Goblin. 

So low it lies that only those familiar 
with that land know of its presence. 
Only those with eyes accustomed to the 
grey stretches can see the Ash Goblin 
himself. Very small he is, and grey of 
face and eyes and hair. Grey, too, are 
his garments, soft and grey as the ashes 
that surround him. 

So he moves about, concealed from 
the view of all but his friends. Not less 


152 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 153 

eager than the rest of the Evil Fairies is 
he to join in any mischief, but because 
he is so small and weak, his help is less 
often sought than is that of the more 
powerful fairies of the land. 

Flying Soot had no intention of ask- 
ing him to join in the affairs of the Earth 
Fairy. He had not even thought of 
him. On many former occasions as he 
had passed through the Land of the Evil 
Fairies he had stopped to chat with the 
Ash Goblin, and give him the news, but 
jto-day he had not time for so much as 
a glance at the grey walls of his 
.dwelling. 

•The Ash Goblin seated beside his 
door saw him as he approached, and 
saw too that he intended to pass without 
speaking. Astonished and displeased 
he determined not to permit it. He 
sprang to his feet in haste, and caught 


1 54 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

at the fluttering mantle of the Soot Fairy 
to drag him back. 

“Ho there,” he cried. “On what 
errand of mischief are you bound, that 
you do not even give me good-day?” 

“Pray let me go at once,” answered 
Flying Soot impatiently, with a jerk of 
his mantle, “I have business of impor- 
tance that must not be delayed.” 

“But it is of this important business 
that I wish to hear,” insisted the Ash 
Goblin, clutching his raiment only the 
more firmly. 

Flying Soot knew well that one so in- 
significant as the Ash Goblin could do 
little to further the wishes of the Earth 
Fairy. So he put him off. “It is an ad- 
venture,” said he, “in which you cannot 
be of the smallest use to me. Let me go 
then to where I can get the help that I 
need.” 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 155 

At this the Ash Goblin became ex- 
ceedingly affronted, and was at no pains 
to conceal it. “If it 'is a matter in which 
you require assistance you do ill to de- 
spise mine,” he declared, drawing him- 
self up haughtily. 

But Flying Soot did not tarry ,to argue 
the matter. He wrenched free his 
mantle, and hurried away to seek Curl- 
ing Smoke, leaving the Ash Goblin to 
nurse his wrath at his leisure. 

Wavering and swaying in the plain 
beyond the dark hill where Flying Soot 
had first beheld him, hung Curling 
Smoke, the grey magician. In all the 
Land of the Evil Fairies there were few 
who possessed such power as he, or were 
so ready to wield it. 

Even at this moment he was watching 
craftily for a chance to work ill upon 
whoever might come his way, now; 


1 56 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

crouching low to peer between the hills, 
now rising to the full spire of his height 
to overlook the black valleys, and ashy 
plains. 

Thus he caught sight of Flying Soot 
from afar, and waited for him, for well 
he knew that mischief was afoot wher- 
ever that black mantle flew. 

Flying Soot came fast, calling to him 
as he drew near. “Curling Smoke, 
Curling .Smoke, do not depart! I have 
urgent business with you.” Nothing 
that he could have said would have been 
more pleasing to Curling Smoke, and 
when the Soot Fairy reached him he 
waved him to a seat, settled himself 
down beside him and gave him an atten- 
tive ear. 

Glad to find his wicked friend so ready 
to listen, Flying Soot began. “A Prince is 
traveling through this land — a stranger. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 157 

He pursues a flame, who is an enchanted 
Princess whom he hopes to win as a 
bride by delivering her from the spell 
that binds her. This he expects to do by 
means of a magic Veil which he carries. 
My friend the Earth Fairy, who is not 
far distant, purposes to prevent this, for 
she has good cause to desire vengeance 
upon the Princess because of injuries 
that she herself has suffered from the 
parents of this Princess. Moreover, the 
Earth Fairy wishes the Veil for herself. 
It is for you, greatest magician in all this 
land, to vanquish this presumptuous 
Prince so that the Earth Fairy may take 
from him this Veil. You must give 
your word, however, that no matter 
what means you may employ to conquer 
him, that you will neither injure the Veil 
itself, nor seek to deprive the Earth 
Fairy of it. Indeed, in case you should 


158 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

attempt it, you would find that it would 
have no virtue in your hands.” 

In proud disdain Curling Smoke 
made answer: “Bring hither your 
Prince, and when I have conquered him 
the Earth Fairy may take from him his 
[Veil and go where she wishes. [What 
care I for such a miserable trifle as this 
Prince carries? Have I not my Veil 
that Blinds? Have I not also my Veil 
that Chokes? With these two I am able 
to work what magic I will.” 

“That I can well believe,” spoke Fly- 
ing Soot in flattering tones. “As to the 
Prince — I need not go to fetch him. 
The Princess herself, driven by the 
Earth Fairy’s spell, leads him on. See 
you — even now they approach us. A 
moment more, and they will be here.” 

It was as he said. Straight toward 
them came the beautiful flame of the 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


159 


Princess, and behind her sped Prince 
Radiance still cherishing the hope that 
the fortunate moment would soon ar- 
rive when he should be able to overtake 
her. Hidden from the eyes of the 
Prince, but clearly visible to Curling 
Smoke and Flying Soot came the wicked 
Earth Fairy, eager, to test the power of 
her new ally. Within the shelter of a 
black crag Curling Smoke sank down 
and lay concealed until.the Princess had 
flitted by, but when Prince Radiance 
would have done likewise, the tall grey 
form of the magician stole from his 
hiding-place and filled the path. 
Twisted about his arm and trailing from 
it were the smoke veils in which his 
power dwelt. Delaying not he unloosed 
the Veil that Blinds. “Yield you to 
Curling Smoke, to Curling Smoke, 
Magician of Veils,” he cried. 


160 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


Tall and powerful as was the unex- 
pected enemy who now beset him, 
Prince Radiance did not quail. Quickly 
he laid his hand upon his scabbard and 
his voice rang clear, “Magician though 
you be, I fear you not. Neither do I 
obey. Stand back then from my path, 
for I follow the Princess White Flame, 
and yield to none.” 

Curling Smoke gave no word in an- 
swer but flung his veil of smoke instead 
full in the Prince’s face. He thought to 
see it sting his eyes to instant blindness, 
but it was not so. Before it could come 
near him to do him harm the Sword of 
Flames answering its master’s hand had 
leapt from its scabbard, and was raised 
on high. Back from its splendor the 
Veil that Blinds drifted — drifted — till it 
settled limp across the magician’s arm. 
By the mere lifting of that fairy sword 





PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 163 

its power had been scattered, and its 
magic spent. Curling Smoke beheld it 
with astonishment and anger. Yet he 
did not hesitate. Grimly he snatched 
from his arm the Veil that Chokes, and 
flung it in its turn toward the Prince. 
He looked to have it take from Prince 
Radiance his very breath, so great was 
its pungent stifling power. But this also 
failed for the Sword of Flames met and 
clove it, and striking to right and left 
rent it in pieces. It fell in a thousand 
fragments about the magician’s feet. 

Then Curling Smoke in a frenzy of 
wrath sprang upon the Prince to clutch 
him with his arms and bear him down. 

Swiftly did Prince Radiance meet his 
onset, and right valiantly did he wield 
his Sword of Flames. Though Curling 
Smoke put forth all his craft, though he 
writhed now here, now there, seeking to 


164 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

ensnare the Prince, though he towered 
above him at one instant or in the next 
curled about his knees to drag him to 
the earth, yet everywhere the shining 
Sword sharp and invincible met him. 
Everywhere its violet splendor flashed; 
around him and through him, until at 
last the magician’s very form was scat- 
tered and driven away in floating wisps 
of smoke. 

Prince Radiance sheathed his Sword 
of Flames. Before him lay the open 
path, and not far away hovered the 
Princess. Across the space between 
them came her exquisite voice, calling 
tremulously her joy at his new deliver- 
ance from peril, and the fear for him 
that had been hers. 

“Nay, then, my White Flame,” he an- 
swered, “fear not for me ever. But one 
grief have I — that I have not yet over- 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 165 

taken you ; but one fear is mine — that I 
may lose you in my journeyings. Over 
both of these, hope, like a star, shines 
always. Happiness awaits us in the 
end. Doubt it not.” 

The Earth Fairy berating Flying 
Soot over the utter failure of Curling 
Smoke, was arrested by the words of 
the Prince. 

They but made her the more deter- 
mined to achieve her end. Already the 
Prince was advancing toward the Prin- 
cess. Should he overtake her all was 
lost to herself. Quickly she lifted her 
Green Wand and drove Princess White 
Flame onward. Quickly she turned to 
Flying Soot who had been making a 
new offer. “Go then,” she cried, “and 
seek this Wizard of the Cave of Dark- 
ness, of whom you have spoken. Ob- 
tain his assistance for me. We shall not 


1 66 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


be far behind you, so lose no time. Let 
us hope that this last plan of yours will 
be of more value to me than the others 
that you have suggested.” 

Flying Soot needed no second bid- 
ding, but took himself off in the direc- 
tion of the Wizard’s Cave. More slowly 
the Earth Fairy proceeded along the 
same way, keeping the Prince and the 
Princess ever before her. 

They had scarcely left the spot where 
Curling Smoke had been vanquished, 
when a small grey figure stole out from 
a crevice in a rock near by and looked 
cautiously after them. It was the Ash 
Goblin. He shook his fist at them in 
menace, muttering, “We shall see, Fly- 
ing Soot, we shall see, Earth Fairy, 
whether you can afford to scorn the help 
of one so small even as an Ash Goblin.” 
He sat down upon a low rock to watch 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 167 

the floating remnants that had once been 
Curling Smoke. Patiently he waited, 
for knowing this crafty magician, he 
knew also what would come to pass. 
Slowly, slowly these remnants came 
closer and closer. Slowly they gathered 
themselves bit by bit into one mass, and 
at length before the Ash Goblin’s eyes 
Curling Smoke appeared once more in 
his own shape. He who had so lately 
boasted himself to be invincible, held 
himself haughtily, for anger burned 
within him at his humiliation and he 
was determined to be revenged. It 
pleased the Ash Goblin to see him thus, 
for it fell in with his own purposes. 
Fearful lest Curling Smoke should be 
about to depart he made haste to address 
him. 

“Master Magician,” he Called from 


i68 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


his lowly seat, “do you know what Fly- 
ing Soot has said of you?” 

“It is not Flying Soot who concerns 
me,” answered Curling Smoke, not 
deigning to look down at the speaker. 
“It is this Prince whom I mean to pun- 
ish for what he has lately done.” 

“Ay, but it was Flying Soot whom I 
heard telling the Earth Fairy that he 
might have guessed that you were no 
magician after all, but a mere boaster. 
He declared also that he had other 
friends who would help her, who were 
really more powerful, and whose word 
could be trusted. Many other things he 
said, that put shame and contempt upon 
you. It would take too long to repeat 
them all. Does not Flying Soot con- 
cern you, now that you know this, 
Master Magician?” 

“&> much does he Concern me that I 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 169 

shall punish him as well,” replied Curl- 
ing Smoke, in mounting rage. “Ay, 
and the Earth Fairy, also. Before their 
journey is done — in a moment when 
they look not for me, they shall one and 
all find that the power of Curling Smoke 
is not to be despised.” 

The Ash Goblin clapped his hands in 
a burst of wicked glee. “Ah, Master 
Magician, that I can well believe — and 
I — the Ash Goblin — shall make it my 
business to be there to see it.” 



CHAPTER XII 

S TRANGE though the lands had 
been across which Prince Radi- 
ance had journeyed since he left his 
father’s kingdom, the one through 
which the flame now led him was the 
strangest of all. At one time he thought 
himself to be approaching a great 
palace, not brilliant and glittering like 
the Palace of Burning Coals, but loom- 
ing dark and forbidding before his eyes. 
He wondered what manner of danger 
might await him there ; yet when at last 
he stood before it, it dissolved from before 


170 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 171 

his sight as though it had never been. 
And beyond him, hastening toward a 
gloomy forest the flame of his Princess 
still seemed to lead on. 

He reached the forest, and it, too, 
vanished into thin air, while before him 
the pale flame steadily pursued its way. 

A great black cave became visible in 
the distance. Soon the flame reached it 
and disappeared into its mouth, yet 
when the Prince arrived, no cave was 
there, and flitting on in silence went the 
unresting flame. Thus he was deceived 
again and again, for whatever he saw 
was found to be naught as soon as he 
reached it. 

“Saw I never so curious a land!” mur- 
mured the Prince. “Surely but a mo- 
ment since I seemed to see a strange grey 
woman close by my side; yet now she is 
gone.” He turned to assure himself of 


172 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

it, and as he did so, a faint laugh echoed 
through the air. 

“Ah! I was not mistaken after all,” 
he whispered. “Someone laughed!” 

Again, yet farther off, he heard the 
same echoing laugh, but though he 
looked sharply in the direction from 
whence it came, he still saw nothing. 
Paying no further heed to it Prince Ra- 
diance traveled onward with greater 
speed. Now at last he found that he 
was truly overtaking the flame. At 
times it stood still, then went slowly on, 
but finally, as if it meant to go no further 
it burned steadily in one spot. 

“She waits!” exclaimed Radiance. 
“My Princess waits!” He ran to her, 
his heart filled with dread lest she should 
again take flight. He reached her, and 
opened his box in haste. He took the 
magic Veil from its shelter, and shook 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 173 

its transparent folds over the waiting 
flame. Instantly the flame vanished, 
and Radiance watched with eager eyes 
for the appearance of his Princess in 
her true form. 

But moment followed moment, the 
Veil drooped limp from his hand, and 
though the flame was gone, the Princess 
did not become visible. 

Perceiving that he had been deceived 
once more, Prince Radiance cried aloud 
in his grief, “Alas! This also is noth- 
ing ! I have followed a false flame 1” 

Overcome with pain and discourage- 
ment, he dropped the Veil unheeded to 
the ground, and buried his face in his 
hands. 

A long grey shadow crept toward him 
from the gloom, and once more a faint 
laugh broke the stillness. It was so near 
that it startled the Prince, plunged 


174 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

though he was in distress. He took his 
hands quickly from his eyes, and saw the 
creeping shadow, saw that with long 
arms outstretched it sought to reach and 
steal the mystic Veil that lay unpro- 
tected at his feet. Swiftly he bent, and 
snatched the Veil to himself. He re- 
stored it to the golden box, and fastened 
the box safely beneath his cloak. 

“Ah!” breathed a voice from the 
shadow, “you were too quick for me. I 
so much longed to see closely this won- 
derful Veil that Flying Soot tells of.” 

Prince Radiance, looking, saw the 
creeping shadow rise up and up until 
it became a tall woman, young and 
beautiful, dressed in long grey robes that 
swept in trailing webs from her arms 
and shoulders to her feet. Her black hair 
fell straight to her knees ; her eyes were 
very dark, and looked as though they 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


175 


never smiled, although even now, the 
Prince heard that strange laughter 
floating from her lips that had echoed 
in his ears as he had pursued the flame 
that he had believed to be his Princess. 

He turned indignant eyes upon her. 
“Who are you that mock me thus?” he 
demanded, wondering as he spoke 
whether this could be the Earth Fairy 
in disguise. 

The woman did not answer, but 
looked at him intently. 

“Speak,” commanded the Prince, 
“Are you the wicked Earth Fairy, that 
you laugh so heartlessly?” 

“No Earth Fairy am I,” replied the 
grey woman. “I am the Shadow Witch, 
and with me are all my servants.” She 
waved her arms, and out of the gloom, 
as she herself had done, sprang a host of 
pale grey figures who stood behind her 


i 7 6 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

murmuring, “Yes, we are her servants — 
her servants the Shadows, who come 
and go at her behest.” 

“And you it is, then, who have so 
cruelly deceived me, and lured me by 
your false flame from following my 
Princess,” cried Prince Radiance to the 
Shadow Witch. 

“True enough,” she declared, “and 
why should I not?” She tossed her 
black hair from her face, and con- 
tinued. “I grow so weary in this Land 
of Shadows, with none but my creeping 
servants about me, naught but my own 
grey magic to fill my hours. Seldom 
does a stranger cross through my land; 
more seldom have I a chance to look 
upon the magic of others. All the tricks 
of my brother, the Wizard of the Cave, 
I know by heart. I am tired of watch- 
ing him play them day after day. Why 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


177 


should I not lure you from your path if 
it gives me an hour of pleasure?” 

“Surely you are the friend of the 
Earth Fairy,” exclaimed the Prince, 
“and you have led me here to steal my 
fairy Veil if you can, but be assured you 
will never obtain it in spite of all your 
craft.” 

The Shadow Witch, who had bent her 
eyes upon the ground, raised them now, 
and turned upon the Prince an earnest 
gaze as though she rejoiced to look 
upon him. “I am no friend of the Earth 
Fairy,” she answered quietly. “She is 
nothing to me. I will tell you fully if 
you wish to know, why it is that I have 
brought you here. Of late as I sat un- 
observed in a corner of the Wizard’s 
Cave, where my brother dwells, I saw 
Flying Soot come in, and heard him say 
that he had work for my brother to-do, 


178 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

if he was willing. What could that 
mean but mischief? I crept close, yet 
taking care lest I should be seen, and 
listened keenly that I might lose noth- 
ing. Thus I learned all that Flying 
Soot had to tell him concerning your- 
self and Princess White Flame, and 
about the Veil that the Earth Fairy 
claims that you have stolen from her.” 

“Nay,” interrupted the Prince in- 
dignantly. “If she says that she tells a 
wicked falsehood. The magic Veil is a 
gift to me from the Wise One. The 
Earth Fairy has never even beheld it.” 

“However that may be,” answered 
the Shadow Witch, shaking out her grey 
sleeves, “she means to wrest it from you, 
and my brother has promised to help 
her. You may take my word for it that 
his help is not to be despised. I heard 
Flying Soot suggest also that he should 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


179 


get me to assist in jthe matter, but the 
Wizard replied, ‘Nay, you need not 
trouble yourself to ask her. She can do 
nothing that is really worth while.’ 
When he said that, I determined to 
cheat them both, and as you see, I have 
done so.” 

“Alas, that you should have suc- 
ceeded,” cried Prince Radiance. “It 
may be that even now my 'Princess is in 
the hands of your wicked brother.” 

“Is then this Princess so dear to you?” 
asked the Shadow Witch softly. 

“Ah, yes. So dear that no witchcraft 
of yours shall be able to keep me from 
her,” exclaimed the Prince. 

“Yet she is no more than a flame, and 
a voice,” murmured the Shadow Witch. 

“But such a voice as none have ever 
heard before, and such a flame, so pure, 
so white, that I wonder how I could 


i8o PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


have been deceived by the false flame of 
your contriving that has lured me here.” 

The lips of the Shadow Witch curled 
in a smile. “I have much skill with 
magic,” she said. “Beautiful may be 
the flame of your Princess, of wondrous 
sweetness may be her voice, yet if you 
would consent to remain in my land, I 
think I should be able to make you for- 
get them both.” 

“Nay,” replied Prince Radiance 
firmly, “that would never be.” Turn- 
ing from her, he sought to depart, but 
the Shadow Witch would not have it so. 
She waved her long arms to her serv- 
ants, and instantly they surrounded him 
in so dense a barrier that he could not 
pass. 

“You must hear me yet further,” cried 
the Shadow Witch. “I am not so cruel, 
perhaps, as you think. It was not alone 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 181 

that I desired to cheat my brother and 
Flying Soot, for when I saw your face 
so full of hope and courage it cheered 
me as none had ever done before. Be- 
cause of this I would have saved you 
from his evil power. Well did I know 
that he had promised not to harm the 
Princess, but I feared that you might 
not escape in safety, and therefore I led 
you here. And then — besides — I am so 
lonely in my kingdom.” She drew 
nearer, and held out her hands beseech- 
ingly. Her pleading voice spoke on. 
“Oh if you would but stay with me. I 
long for brightness, for light, for cheer. 
These you can give me. Stay, ah stay 
with me, Prince Radiance. In my land 
you shall be prince and ruler. Stay, and 
teach me to forget my witch’s tricks; 
stay, and help me to learn nobler ways.” 

Prince Radiance looked into the face 


182 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


of the Shadow Witch, and saw that her 
eyes overflowed with tears. Gently he 
took her hand, gently he answered her. 
“Though you have drawn me away 
from my beloved Princess, I bear you 
no malice. Yet I cannot stay with you, 
for my heart follows the Princess White 
Flame. I have sworn to deliver her, and 
to my vow I give my life. You tell me 
that you are not cruel. Prove it then. 
Lead me back to my Princess quickly; 
show me where to find this Cave where 
your brother dwells.” 

The Shadow Witch sighed bitterly 
and drew her hand away. “If I let you 
go, you will never come again.” Silent 
she stood, wavering in indecision, but 
at length she spoke quickly, “Yes — yes 
— I will let you go. I will even do as 
you ask, and take you to the Cave my- 
self, for in this Land of Shadows you 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 183 

would wander long, and never find your 
way.” Turning to her band of servants, 
she waved them back. “Go,” she ex- 
claimed. “Go, till I summon you 
again.” 

With a flutter of grey garments they 
dissolved like mist at her command. 
Then the Shadow Witch stretched her 
'hand to Prince Radiance. “Come,” 
she said. “Follow where I lead you, 
and you shall learn that I spoke truly 
when I said that in this land there is one 
at least who is not altogether unkind.” 

Gratefully the Prince obeyed her, and 
before he could have believed it pos- 
sible, they stood together at the spot 
where he had begun to pursue the false 
flame. A high black cliff rose before 
them. The Shadow Witch pointed to it 
and said, “My brother’s Cave lies yon- 
der. Enter that wide opening in the 


184 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

clif¥-side. Pursue the narrow way that 
leads from it, and erelong you will reach 
the Cave Hall where he sits. Gladly 
would I give you some weapon to use 
against him, but there is only one that 
he fears, and alas, I do not possess it.” 

“What weapon may that be?” in- 
quired the Prince. 

“It is the Sword of Flames,” she an- 
swered. “He has never seen it, but its 
fame has reached him, and he knows 
well that before it his power would be 
shattered.” 

Prince Radiance smiled, and laid his 
hand upon his scabbard. “Then am I 
well assured of victory,” he told her, 
“for the Sword of Flames is here.” 

“The Sword of Flames? You have 
the Sword of Flames?” exclaimed she. 
“Ah, now you may meet him safely, 
And yet ” she warned him, “he is 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 185 

clever, very clever. Beware lest he steal 
your strength from you and overpower 
you before you are aware.” 

“I will be watchful,” he promised. 

“Farewell then,” she murmured, “and 
forget not the Shadow Witch.” 

“Always will I remember you and be 
grateful,” replied the Prince. With a 
wave of his hand he left her. Rapidly 
he mounted the cliff, and found himself 
at the entrance to the Wizard’s Cave. 

The Shadow Witch, who had re- 
mained below, watched him sadly until 
she saw him disappear in the Cave’s 
mouth. Then she turned away to go 
back to the Land of Shadows. But sud- 
denly she changed her mind. Silently 
she, too, climbed the cliff wall, trailing 
her long grey robes behind her, and 
entered the Cave. 

“My brother is so clever,” she muf- 


i86 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

tered to herself, “and none know his 
tricks so well as I. He shall not harm 
this Prince, no — nor the Princess that 
he loves. I will go to make sure of it.” 



CHAPTER XIII 

W HILE Prince Radiance, deceived 
by the Shadow Witch had gone 
away into the Land of Shadows, the 
Earth Fairy on her part had proceeded 
straight to the Cave of Darkness where 
the Wizard dwelt. 

A figure that she believed to be the 
iPrince followed the Princess steadily, 
so that she suspected nothing wrong. 

The Cave was black and forbidding; 
its walls of charcoal were full of gaping 
Crevices; and a very little way from the 
187 


188 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


entrance it became pitch dark. Be- 
cause of this great darkness it was the 
duty of many Imps, the servants of the 
Wizard, to run back and forth with 
glimmering lanterns, to light the way of 
those who came to see their master. 

Flying Soot, who had arrived some 
time before, had told his story to the 
Wizard and had easily gained his con- 
sent to assist the Earth Fairy. So when 
the Earth Fairy with her companions 
reached the entrance to the Cave she 
found the Imps waiting there to con- 
duct her to the Wizard. The Princess 
was first to enter, and so brilliant was 
the light of her pure flame that the 
lanterns of the Imps were quite dimmed 
by it. The Imps themselves stared at her 
in the utmost astonishment. Never be- 
fore had they seen a light so gloriously 
beautiful. Scurrying in front to lead 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 189 

the way, they turned back every few 
moments to behold her. Behind the 
Princess came the supposed prince, and 
after him came the Earth Fairy, holding 
her cloak closely about her as she went, 
lest she should become blackened by the 
walls of the Cave. 

Far down in a wider portion of the 
Cave called the Cave Hall, sat the Wiz- 
ard in a great black armchair pushed 
close against the wall. He was very 
ancient and grim. His long dingy 
white hair and beard fell down over a 
loose black robe and mantle thickly 
powdered with finest charcoal. At his 
least movement little clouds of black 
dust flew from his garments and floated 
round about the Cave. His jet black eyes 
sparkled so sharply in his head that one 
saw immediately that he was not a per- 
son with whom one could trifle. Flying 


190 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

Soot, perched at a respectful distance on 
a lump of charcoal, waited for the com- 
ing of the Earth Fairy. He was quite 
sure that this time he had obtained for 
her the help of one who could not fail. 
He kept his eyes fixed on the dark pas- 
sage before them, and at last he cried 
softly, “They come, Sir Wizard, they 
come, for I behold the flame of the 
Princess!” 

Instantly the Wizard beckoned to one 
of the many Imps who clustered about. 
“Bring hither the Urn of Vapors,” com- 
manded he, “and make no delay.” 

Away rushed the Imp accompanied 
by a dozen or more of his companions 
to do the Wizard’s bidding, and pres- 
ently a low rumbling was heard. It was 
the Imps returning, all pushing and 
shoving a huge black urn. A ponder- 
ous cover sealed it tightly, and when the 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 191 

Imps had succeeded in placing it beside: 
their master, Flying Soot saw that it was 
so tall that it reached almost to the 
Wizard’s shoulders. Its sides were cov- 
ered with inscriptions of evil magic. 
The Wizard scrutinized it closely, and 
satisfied himself that it was the one that 
he desired. Then he waved back his 
servants and turned to Flying Soot. 
“When I lift this cover,” he said, “the 
Earth Fairy has but to rush forward and 
take what she desires, for in the instant 
that the Prince is met by my magic 
vapor he will fall to the Earth unable to 
offer her the slightest resistance.” 

Flying Soot had no time to answer, 
for at that moment Princess White 
Flame, driven by the Earth Fairy, flut- 
tered terror-stricken into the Cave Hall, 
and came to rest in a corner at some dis- 
tance from the Wizard. Soon after he 


192 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

whom the Earth Fairy believed to be 
Prince Radiance appeared also, but be- 
fore he could advance into the Cave 
Hall the Wizard stretched forth his 
hand quickly to the urn. Uttering 
mystic words he lifted the cover and 
forthwith a stream of vapor rushed from 
it directly toward the Prince. 

It had no sooner reached him than 
the Wizard’s prophecy was fulfilled; he 
fell to the ground in a heap, apparently 
without life. 

The Princess seeing this uttered a 
piercing cry, but held by the spell of 
her enchantress she could not stir from 
her place. 

The Wizard replaced the lid of the 
urn, and the Earth Fairy rushed for- 
ward to pounce upon the helpless 
Prince. Her eyes glittered with joy to 
see him in her power at last. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


i93 


She tore back his cloak, sure that the 
Veil of Disenchantment was hidden be- 
neath it, but as soon as her fingers 
touched the prostrate form it vanished. 
Where it had been, she saw only the 
charcoal floor of the Cave. Puzzled 
and astonished she struggled to her feet, 
and stood dazed, peering down at the 
spot where the figure had lain as though 
she could scarcely believe her senses. 
When at last she could no longer doubt 
that the Prince had indeed disappeared, 
she rushed to the Wizard, shrieking in 
fury, “What evil magic is this that you 
have wrought upon me, wicked one 
that you are? You have ruined every- 
thing by your miserable enchantments. 
You have destroyed the Yeil as well as 
the Prince.” 

The Wizard interrupted her angrily. 
“How dare you speak to me in this man- 


i 9 4 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

ner,” he thundered, bringing his fist 
down upon the top of the urn. “You, 
who have deceived me by pretending to 
bring a Prince before me? But I will 
show you that you cannot trifle with the 
L Wizard of the Cave.” 

He waved to his Imps. They under- 
stood him without a word, and bounded 
forward with ropes of darkness in their 
hands to bind the Earth Fairy. It would 
have gone hard with her then if it had 
not been for Flying Soot. He jumped 
down with all speed from his lump of 
charcoal, and ran to cast himself at the 
Wizard’s feet. He threw his arms about 
them, and tried to soothe him. “Sir 
Wizard, Sir Wizard,” he pleaded, 
“listen but a moment. There has cer- 
tainly been some strange mistake. I as- 
sure you that we are not to blame. This 
creature that has so suddenly vanished 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME i 9S 

could never have been the Prince. 
Someone — I know not who, has tricked 
us all. I pray you, do nothing rash to 
the Earth Fairy. She is not to blame.” 

The Imps who surrounded the Earth 
Fairy, hearing this, stood swinging the 
ropes of darkness in their hands, wait- 
ing to see what their master would say, 
before they ventured to bind her fast. 
White Flame, weeping and trembling 
in her corner, checked her sobs and 
listened breathlessly for the Wizard’s 
reply. 

The Wizard thought for a time in 
silence. Then at last he spoke. “Since 
you yourselves have played no tricks 
upon me, there is but one way in which 
to explain this matter. My sister, the 
Shadow Witch, has been at work. She 
it is who has caused us to see a prince 
where no prince was. The real prince 


196 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

she has without doubt lured away into 
the Land of Shadows.” 

At these words Flying Soot rose to 
his feet and turned to the Earth Fairy. 
“Then we must go to seek him there,” 
he declared. 

The Earth Fairy was but too anxious 
to set forth. At a signal from their 
master, the Imps drew back, leaving her 
free to go as she would, but as she was 
about to depart from the Wizard’s pres- 
ence with her companions, an Imp came 
rushing down the long dark corridor 
from the Cave entrance, and into the 
Cave Hall. “Sir Wizard— Sir Wizard!” 
he panted. “A second prince ap- 
proaches! Even now he is within the 
entrance to the Cave.” 

Certain that this could be no other 
than Prince Radiance himself, the Earth 
Fairy and Flying Soot paused instantly. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


197 


The Wizard, seeing this, was not un- 
willing to prove his skill upon the true 
prince. He spoke in a friendly manner 
to the Earth Fairy, and prepared himi- 
self once more to lift the cover of his 
Urn of Vapors. The Imps, flinging 
their ropes of darkness into a corner, re- 
treated so close against the Cave Wall 
that they could scarcely be seen. In her 
corner quivered Princess White Flame, 
her longing to see her beloved Radiance 
once more overborne by her fear of 
what might befall him at the hands of 
his foes. 

Each in his own place peered eagerly 
down the dusky corridor, awaiting in 
silence the coming of the Prince. 

But one accompanied the Prince 
whom they did not expect. It was the 
Shadow Witch. Although by her grey 
magic she had sent a shadow prince to 


198 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

deceive her brother, she had never for 
a moment lost sight of Prince Radiance, 
and now that he was drawing near to 
the Wizard, she knew that the time for 
her further good offices had arrived. If 
she could prevent him from being seen 
by her brother until the Prince was near 
enough to use his Sword of Flames, she 
knew that all would be well. 

Prince Radiance was so near to the 
Cave Hall that one short turn would 
bring him into the Wizard’s view. The 
Shadow Witch knew that her time to 
help him had come. She waved her 
long arms and instantly a thick curtain 
of shadow fell directly in front of the 
Prince. He could not see a yard before 
him, and stood still at once, fearing that 
some trap had been laid for him. 

“Do not be afraid,” whispered a voice 
at his ear. “Go forward. It is I, the 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 199 

Shadow Witch, who have come to help 
you.” 

Prince Radiance knew her voice, yet 
he hesitated. 

“Fear nothing,” insisted the Shadow 
Witch. “Go forward, and no harm 
shall come to you.” 

Trusting her then, the Prince trod 
boldly on, and before him went the cur- 
tain of the Shadow Witch like a cover- 
ing shield. Beyond it the Wizard and 
his companions watched and waited, 
but saw only the corridor of the Cave 
stretching before them darker than ever, 
and filled with shadows so deep that 
their eyes could not penetrate them. 

Nearer and nearer came the Prince, 
and presently the voice of the Shadow 
Witch was heard again at his ear. 
“Have out your Sword of Flames,” she 
whispered. “The time has come.” 


200 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

Radiance laid his hand upon the hilt. 
At that moment the shadow curtain dis- 
solved, and he beheld the Wizard little 
more than a yard away. So suddenly 
had the Prince appeared that the Wiz- 
ard started with astonishment, but he re- 
covered himself immediately, and shot 
forth his hand to lift the cover of his urn. 

“Now, now,” urged the Shadow 
Witch, at the Prince’s ear. “Now, or it 
will be too late!” 

Out flashed the Sword of Flames. It 
filled the Cave with blinding light. The 
cover of the urn settled back to its place 
with a harsh clang, as the Wizard 
leaped to his feet, shielding his eyes with 
his hands. 

“The Sword of Flames! The Sword 
of Flames!” he shrieked. “Away! 
Away!” 

He tried to flee, but fell prostrate 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 201 

across the Urn of Vapors instead. From 
every corner of the Cave sprang a crowd 
of Imps in answer to their master’s cry. 
Seeing the dread weapon that flashed in 
the hand of Prince Radiance they turned 
their backs upon it in terror, and scream- 
ing wildly surrounded the urn in a hud- 
dled mass. Throwing themselves upon 
it, they hurried it away into a dim pas- 
sage, with their master still lying sense- 
less across its top. As they disappeared 
into the pitch dark opening, a heavy 
door of charcoal fell shut behind them, 
closing the entrance to the place to 
which they fled. 

Overjoyed at his victory, Radiance 
lifted his eyes to where but a moment 
since he had seen Princess White Flame 
trembling against the Cave wall, but the 
Princess, the Earth Fairy, and Flying 
Soot were nowhere to be seen. Except 


202 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


for the Shadow Witch he was entirely 
alone in the Cave of Darkness. 

With a gesture of despair the Prince 
let the Sword of Flames drop back into 
its sheath. “What has it availed me to 
overcome this miserable Wizard,” he 
groaned, “since it has brought me no 
nearer to my dear White Flame? Again 
she has vanished, and I know not where 
to seek her ; whether in some dusky por- 
tion of this hateful Cave, or in the open 
country without.” 

The voice of the Shadow Witch an- 
swered him. “Have courage, good 
Prince. All is not lost. Leave the Cave 
of Darkness with me, and seek her in 
the light.” 

Prince Radiance hesitated, but the 
Shadow Witch insisted. “She is not 
here,” she told him. “Trust yourself 
fully to my guidance, and I will lead you 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 203 

safely out.” Then the Prince yielded, 
and together they left the Wizard’s Hall. 
Down the dark corridor they passed 
swiftly and soon arrived at the Cave’s 
mouth. There they parted, the Shadow 
Witch stealing away with drooped head 
to her Land of Shadows, the Prince 
standing for a moment gazing with 
eager eyes across the plain, hoping that 
not far away he might behold the flame 
of his Princess, 



CHAPTER XIV 

N O sooner had the Earth Fairy be-> 
held the sudden downfall of the 
Wizard than she immediately fled from 
the Cave of Darkness taking Princess 
White Flame with her. 

Flying Soot, much crestfallen over 
the way in which matters had turned 
out, kept a little way behind them, for 
he was not anxious to speak with the 
Earth Fairy until her anger had had 
time to cool. When they were well out- 
side the Cave, however, he drew nearer, 
and began as usual to make excuses and 
suggest new plans. 


204 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 205 


The Earth Fairy listened to him most 
ungraciously. “Speak no more of these 
friends of yours,” she exclaimed, “for I 
have lost all faith in them.” 

“As you will,” said Flying Soot, with 
a shrug of his black shoulders, “but you 
make a grave mistake if you do not try 
the Wind in the Chimney.” 

“I have no reason to believe that he 
will do any better than those others of 
whom you boasted so loudly,” retorted 
the Earth Fairy. 

But Flying Soot was not to be dis- 
couraged. He continued to sing the 
Wind’s praises, until finally the Earth 
Fairy consented to give him a trial. 

“You have but to wait here in con- 
cealment near the mouth of the Cave 
until the Prince comes forth,” directed 
Flying Soot, before he took his leave of 
her. “Then cause the Princess to lead 


206 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


him to the Chimney yonder, and you 
will soon see that the Wind is one whose 
magic is not to be despised.” 

He gathered his black mantle about 
him and departed, and the Earth Fairy 
hid herself and Princess White Flame 
in a deep cleft close by, from whence 
she should be able to see Prince Radi- 
ance the moment that he issued from the 
Cave. 

With her keen eyes fixed steadily in 
that direction the Earth Fairy did not 
let her gaze wander elsewhere, and 
hence she did not see a tall form creep- 
ing stealthily from dark cliff to dark cliff 
as though seeking someone; she did not 
see a small grey figure following closely 
at his heels. They were Curling Smoke 
and the Ash Goblin in quest of the 
Prince and Flying Soot. 

At last the Earth Fairy’s watching 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


207 

was rewarded. She saw Prince Radi- 
ance come from the Cave’s mouth in 
company with the Shadow Witch, saw 
him bid her farewell, and saw the 
Shadow Witch steal away from him to 
her own land. 

Then quickly the Earth Fairy came 
forth and drove the Princess to where 
Prince Radiance could not fail to be- 
hold her when he should set out in quest 
of her. 

It happened as the Earth Fairy ex- 
pected; the Prince searching the plain 
with his eyes instantly descried the 
Princess. He had not even had time to 
call to her, when suddenly the huge grey 
form of Curling Smoke wound upon 
him from behind, gathered the Prince, 
the Princess and the Earth Fairy, one 
and all, into a dense cloud of smoke, in 


208 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

which none could see the other, and 
hurried them away toward the Chimney. 

The Ash Goblin beholding, danced 
for joy, for he had seen Flying Soot van- 
ish into the Chimney not long since, 
and believed that now his time of pun- 
ishment was come. 

Flying Soot had indeed reached the 
great Chimney where the Wind dwelt, 
and was even now awaiting the coming 
of the Earth Fairy and those that she 
should bring with her. The Chimney 
was wide and dark, with great rough 
boundaries, and the Wind’s voice was 
so strong and boisterous that it could be 
heard from the Chimney Mouth to the 
Chimney Top. Over the entire Chim- 
ney the Wind ruled, and none dared to 
intrude upon him there without first 
asking his permission. 

It was true that Curling Smoke had 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


209 


the right of way to the Chimney Top, 
but it was well understood that the Wind 
was at liberty to deny him entrance to 
the Chimney at any time that he chose. 

When Flying Soot had arrived at the 
Chimney Mouth, the Wind had howled 
a welcome to him, and bade him enter. 
This Flying Soot had made haste to do, 
and finding a seat beside the Wind had 
told his errand without loss of time. 

“Ah!” whistled the Wind, “what you 
say interests me greatly, and I am per- 
fectly willing to do as you ask and help 
the Earth Fairy. You may give your- 
self no anxiety about the Veil. I care 
nothing whatever for it. Of one thing 
you must assure me, however, and that 
is that she has had no dealings with 
Curling Smoke in this matter, for I am 
on bad terms with him at present, and 


2io PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

refuse to take part in anything in which 
he has at any time been concerned.” 

Flying Soot rolled up his eyes and 
swore to the Wind in the Chimney that 
neither he nor the Earth Fairy had had 
anything to do with Curling Smoke, nor 
would they think of approaching him. 
So the Wind was satisfied and declared 
that he would exert all his powers in the 
Earth Fairy’s behalf. 

The Soot Fairy was just about to 
thank him for the promise of his good 
offices, when suddenly the Wind leaned 
from his seat, and peered down toward 
the Chimney Mouth. Flying Soot 
looked also. Up the Chimney rose a 
dense cloud of smoke, and in it, so en- 
veloped by it that they could not see 
each other, though they were plainly 
visible to the eyes of the Wind and Fly- 
ing Soot, were the Earth Fairy, Princess 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 21 1 

White Flame, and Prince Radiance. 
Behind them loomed an immense grey 
shape. It was Curling Smoke on his 
way to the Chimney Top, driving his 
enemies before him. 

The Wind started from his seat in ai 
towering rage. “So this is the way you 
and your Earth Fairy have deceived 
me,” he howled, turning upon Flying 
Soot. “This is the way in which she 
has had nothing to do with Curling 
Smoke. But you, her messenger, shall 
learn what happens when you trifle with 
the Wind. Up, out of my Chimney, to 
the punishment that you well deserve.” 

With one blast he drove the Soot 
Fairy up and away through the great 
black spaces of the Chimney, and hurled 
him out into the Great World Beyond. 
Well did the Wind know that from 
thence he could not return. 


2X2 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


Then with so mighty a rush that noth- 
ing could stand before it he pounced 
upon Curling Smoke and those whom 
he had in his power. “How dare you 
come into my presence unbidden?” he 
shrieked. “Out of my kingdom all of 
you ! Out, out into the Borderland.” 

Away they were driven by the fury of 
the Wind like leaves before a storm, 
down through the black Chimney and 
out of its mouth, into the Borderland 
near to the Kingdom of Earth. 

There the Wind scattered Curling 
Smoke far and wide in thin pale stream- 
ers that slowly floated back at last to the 
great plain from whence he had come. 

As for the wicked Earth Fairy, the 
Wind in the Chimney drove her away 
and away into the Land of Desolate 
Places there to remain forever a 
prisoner. 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 213 

In the Borderland he cast down 
Prince Radiance, and roughly tossed 
the flame of the Princess upon a pile of 
scattered ash, and blackened coals. 

Then with his anger satisfied, the 
Wind rushed back to his Chimney, 
shrieking and howling with glee at the 
punishment that he had dealt out to 
those who had offended him. 

Princess White Flame, so pale that 
she could scarcely be discerned, quiv- 
ered and flickered where the Wind had 
rudely thrown her. Too weak to cry 
out, she only sighed faintly, and sank 
still lower upon the ashes. 

She knew not that by her entrance 
into the Borderland the cruel spell had 
been broken by which the Earth Fairy 
had so long compelled her to flee from 
Prince Radiance. She only knew that 
she felt helpless, and almost without 


214 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

life. And indeed the Princess was now 
in great danger, for away from the Fire, 
no Fire Fairy can live for long. 

Over Prince Radiance the Border- 
land possessed no evil power. He arose 
unharmed from the stones and looked 
anxiously about him for his Princess. 
So almost extinguished was her fairy? 
flame that at first he did not see her, and 
his heart was rent by fear lest the Wind 
had carried her away from him forever. 

But presently he descried her lying 
there, as if unable to proceed further, 
and hope rose again in his breast. In 
haste he took forth the Veil of Disen- 
chantment — in haste he ran to her hold- 
ing it securely in his hand. He reached 
her, he bent above her, and she did not 
stir. 

“At last my White Flame,” he cried, 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 215 

in an outburst of joy, “at last you flee 
from me no more.” 

He cast the mystic Veil over the flame 
of the Princess. Like a web of gos- 
samer it settled slowly upon her, and the 
Prince, scarce daring to breathe as he 
watched it, saw the Wise One’s promise 
instantly fulfilled. 

At his feet, visible in her true form, 
lay a creature so beautiful, so charming 
as none had ever seen the like before. 
The Veil of Disenchantment, in touch- 
ing her, had changed to a marvelous 
robe, soft and silvery, that swept in shin- 
ing folds from her head to her feet. Over 
her shoulders and down to her knees 
streamed the silken splendor of her hair; 
pale gold it was, and finer than the finest 
floss. Her delicate red lips were closed, 
her eyes fast shut. 

Prince Radiance fell on his knees 


21 6 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


before her and touched her gently. 
“White Flame,” he whispered, “dear 
White Flame, awake and speak.” 

The Princess lay there pale and still, 
giving no sign that she had heard. The 
Prince laid his hand on hers, but felt no 
glow of life. 

In wild alarm he cried aloud, “White 
Flame! White Flame! Awake — 
awake!” 

Still the Princess made no answer, 
and though he tried by every means he 
knew to revive her, his efforts were all 
in vain. 

At length, choked with grief he 
bowed his head upon her breast. If he 
had reached her, and freed her, only to 
lose her thus, he had no wish left except 
to die by her side. 

A fierce tug at his arm aroused him. 
“Do you not know that a Fire Fairy 



Prince Radiance fell on his knees before her. 
21 7 




















4 



t 












* 


















































PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 219 

cannot exist in the Borderland?” de- 
manded an indignant voice. “Take her 
back to the Fire at once, and warm her 
back to life.” 

The Prince raised his head, and saw 
at his elbow a fuzzy little creature, who 
clutched and shook him with a pudgy 
hand. It was an Elf of the Borderland. 

“Come, come,” cried the Elf, “bestir 
yourself, or it will be too late.” 

Quickly the Prince bent over Prin- 
cess White Flame to raise her in his 
arms, but before he could do so the Elf 
had laid a fuzzy ear to the heart of the 
unconscious Princess. 

“Ah, me,” he murmured, lifting his 
head, and regarding the Prince mourn- 
fully, “I fear she can never live to reach 
there. She should have warmth at this 
very moment.” 

Hardly had the Elf spoken, when 


220 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

Prince Radiance remembered his good 
Grey Pouch. He tore it open, took out 
a glowing coal quickly, and laid it over 
the heart of the Princess. What was his 
joy to see an exquisite roseate glow steal 
into her face, to feel her hand grow 
warm under its fairy touch. Then as 
it lay there warm against her heart, the 
eyes of the Princess opened slowly to 
behold Prince Radiance bending above 
her ; her ears awoke to his voice calling 
tenderly, “White Flame, my own White 
Flame!” 

For a moment she gazed up at him 
lovingly, too overcome with joy to 
speak; then fear crept into her face, and 
she clung to him whispering, “The 
Earth Fairy! — where is she?” 

“Gone, gone forever,” the Prince as- 
sured her, drawing her closer to his 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 221 

breast. “Her wicked spells are broken. 
Fear her no more.” 

The Princess, beholding her hands, 
her figure, her shining garments, knew 
that it was indeed true, and gave a low 
cry of rapture. 

Prince Radiance raised her gently 
to her feet. “Come,” said he, “let me 
lead you home to your father, King Red 
Flame, as I have promised. He waits 
and yearns for you in his Palace of 
Burning Coals.” 

“Yes, let us go to him quickly, dear 
Radiance,” she answered. “Had it not 
been for you he must have waited 
always in vain.” 

So they set out, and the Elf of the 
Borderland went before them, and 
guided them to the boundary of the 
Land of Fire, by the nearest way. 



CHAPTER XV 

F AR away in the Land* of the Fire 
Fairies, King Red Flame mourned 
daily the loss of his dear daughter. As 
day followed day and no news of her 
reached him he became more and more 
fearful that he should never again look 
upon her exquisite flame, or hear her 
voice speaking to him in tenderness and 
love. 

The old nurse, Grey Smoke, did all 
that she could to hearten him, and as for 


222 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 223 

herself, she never lost the hope and 
belief that at no distant day her beloved 
mistress would come safely home. 

The Fire Fairies spoke of her always 
in hushed voices, and when they re- 
peated her story to one another as they 
worked or played, they would sigh, and 
whisper, “Ah, she was beautiful, our 
Princess White Flame — beautiful and 
good as none else.” But they spoke of 
her always as one who would never 
come again. 

At last one day King Red Flame 
could bear his anxious thoughts no 
longer. He left the Palace of Burn- 
ing Coals, and took his way to the hut 
of the Wise One. There he hoped to 
find encouragement and counsel. Ar- 
rived at the low red door he knocked, 
and presently he heard the Wise One’s 
voice bidding him enter. 


224 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 

The King did so, and talked to him 
long and despondently, but the Wise 
One enjoined upon him not to give up 
hope. “There will be difficulties to be 
met and conquered,” he told him, “and 
that takes time. But something assures 
me that the Princess is alive and well. 
As for Prince Radiance, you may trust 
him entirely. Take courage ; at any time 
they may return in triumph.” 

While the Wise One spoke thus to 
the King, Grey Smoke stood in the high 
tower of the Palace of Burning Coals 
and gazed earnestly out across the coun- 
try, as she did many times each day, in 
order that she might be the first to catch 
a glimpse of the Princess when she 
should return. 

Grey Smoke was old, but her eyes 
were still keen. On this day, as she 
looked, she saw in the distance two 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 225 

travelers approaching hand in- hand. 
One of these travelers appeared to her to 
be Prince Radiance. She waited a few 
moments to make sure of it; but soon 
she could no longer doubt. It was he in 
very truth. The other, her eyes told her 
for a certainty, was her beloved young 
mistress. The heart of old Grey Smoke 
leaped for joy. As rapidly as her age 
would permit she descended the steps of 
the tower, calling out with trembling 
voice, “The Princess comes ! The Prin- 
cess White Flame comes!” 

The palace fairies at their tasks heard 
it. Knowing that Grey Smoke was one 
who made no mistakes, they seized upon 
the glad news, and rushed from one end 
of the palace to the other shouting it: 
“The Princess comes! The Princess 
comes !” 

The garden fairies were not slow to 


226 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


hear it, and they too took up the excited 
cry, “The Princess White Flame comes! 
The Princess White Flame comes!” 

Grey Smoke, anxious to be the first 
to bring the glad tidings to her master, 
went in search of him, and after her the 
fairies one and all came trooping, troop- 
ing from everywhere. In this manner 
they drew near to the little red hut in the 
shrubbery. King Red Flame heard the 
tumult and caught the words of their 
cry. He hurried forth, followed by the 
Wise One. “Where is the Princess 
White Flame?” exclaimed the King, 
“Tell me quickly.” 

There was no need of any answer, for 
in that instant he saw her coming down 
the shining way — his dear lost daughter 
— lovelier by far than he had ever 
dreamed she might be. He heard the 
music of her voice calling to him, 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 227 

sweeter even than he had so fondly re- 
membered it. 

Hand in hand with her came Prince 
Radiance leading her safely to her jour- 
ney’s end. 

King Red Flame opened his arms to 
her crying in ecstasy, “Ah that I should 
at last behold you, my White Flame, my 
own dear child!” 

And Princess White Flame ran to 
him, and nestled at his breast, weeping 
and laughing all in a breath for pure 
happiness. 

For a little he held her thus in silence ; 
but presently, thirsting to hear of all that 
had transpired during her long absence 
from him, he begged the Prince to re- 
late the story of their wanderings. 

Briefly the tale was told, and as the 
King listened intently, the eager fairies 
clustered close about him meanwhile, 


228 PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 


that they also might lose no syllable con- 
cerning the perils that had been safely 
passed. The Wise One, hearing, 
stroked his beard with satisfaction that 
all had turned out so triumphantly and 
well. 

When the last words had been 
spoken, King Red Flame led his be- 
loved child to Prince Radiance, and 
placed her hand in his. “Noble Prince,” 
he exclaimed, with deep emotion, “take 
my daughter, with her father’s love and 
gratitude, for valiantly have you won 
your bride.” 

Then King Red Flame turned to the 
thronging fairies, and raising his voice 
so as to be heard by all, he cried, 
“Hasten, one and all, to the Palace of 
Burning Coals. Prepare all things for 
the wedding. Let swift messengers 
speed to the Kingdom of Light, to bid 


PRINCESS WHITE FLAME 229 

its ruler to the marriage of his son. And 
you, my good Grey Smoke, who know 
so well how to carry out my desires, see 
to it that never fairy wedding in the 
Land of Fire has equaled this of my be- 
loved daughter Princess White Flame, 
and my dear son Prince Radiance.” 

Thus, amid tumults of rejoicing, did 
Princess White Flame and Prince Ra- 
diance enter upon their life of never- 
ending happiness. 



FIM IA 








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